France, UK, Italy acquire 220 Aster sky-shredding missiles

Paris: France, the United Kingdom, and Italy are preparing to place a new order for approximately 220 Aster 15 and Aster 30 air defense missiles through the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation [OCCAR], with an announcement expected early next week.

The missiles, designed for air defense, will be deployed across various platforms operated by the armed forces of these nations. The contract will be awarded to Eurosam, a Franco-Italian industrial consortium comprising MBDA France, MBDA Italy, and Thales. Alongside this new order, officials in Paris, London, and Rome are set to urge manufacturers to expedite delivery timelines for existing contracts.

This development follows a previous deal in December 2022, when France and Italy tasked Eurosam with producing around 700 Aster missiles. MBDA, a key player in the consortium, has outlined plans to reduce the production timeline for Aster missiles from 42 months in 2022 to under 18 months by 2026 while aiming to boost output by 50%.

🇫🇷🇬🇧🇮🇹France, the UK and Italy have ordered more than 200 Aster 15 and 30 surface-to-air missiles from Eurosam to strengthen their air and missile defence capabilities.

In a statement from March 2024, MBDA’s Chief Executive Officer Eric Béranger emphasized this goal, noting that the Europe-based missile manufacturer is committed to sustaining these efforts in the coming months. The company is also enhancing its integration capacity for Aster missiles at its facility in Selles-Saint-Denis, France.

The Aster missile family, developed collaboratively by France and Italy, represents a cornerstone of modern European air defense technology. Eurosam, established in 1989 by its parent companies, has been responsible for designing and producing these surface-to-air missiles, which come in two primary variants: the Aster 15 and the Aster 30.

The Aster 15 is optimized for short- to medium-range engagements, with a range of approximately 30 kilometers, while the Aster 30 extends this capability to longer distances, exceeding 120 kilometers against aircraft and offering interception potential against short-range ballistic missiles.

France, the UK, and Italy have ordered over 200 Aster surface-to-air missiles from Eurosam for their own stocks.

Both missiles utilize a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing, enabling them to engage a wide spectrum of aerial threats, including high-performance combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, and anti-ship missiles.

The Aster 30 Block 1 variant, an upgrade over the original design, enhances this capability further by incorporating improved seeker software and hardware modifications, such as a proximity-fused warhead, allowing it to tackle ballistic threats like Scud-class missiles with ranges up to 600 kilometers.

Manufactured with a top speed of Mach 4.5 and a vertical launch system, these missiles provide rapid response times and flexibility across diverse operational environments.

In France, the Aster missiles are integrated into both naval and land-based platforms. The French Navy deploys them on vessels such as the Horizon-class frigates and the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, where they serve as a critical layer of defense against air and missile threats.

On land, the French Air and Space Force operates the SAMP/T [Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain] system, known as MAMBA, which uses Aster 30 missiles to protect key assets and deployed forces.

Italy employs the Aster missiles similarly, with its navy equipping Horizon-class frigates and the Cavour aircraft carrier, while the Italian Army and Air Force utilize the SAMP/T system for territorial defense.

The United Kingdom, meanwhile, integrates Aster 30 missiles into its Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers, designed to counter sophisticated air attacks in maritime operations. The forthcoming order of 220 missiles will likely bolster these existing systems, ensuring sustained operational readiness across all three nations’ armed forces.

This acquisition is poised to enhance the defensive capabilities of France, the UK, and Italy by reinforcing their ability to counter evolving aerial threats. The Aster missiles’ versatility allows them to address a broad range of challenges, from conventional air-breathing targets like fighter jets and drones to more complex threats such as ballistic and supersonic missiles.

For France and Italy, the addition of these missiles to the SAMP/T systems will strengthen theater protection, providing a robust shield for military installations and civilian infrastructure alike. The UK’s Type 45 destroyers, already among the most advanced air defense ships in the world, will benefit from an increased missile stockpile, ensuring prolonged deterrence in contested maritime zones.

Military analysts note that the ability of the Aster 30 Block 1 to intercept ballistic missiles adds a strategic dimension to this enhancement, particularly as regional tensions and missile proliferation drive demand for such capabilities. The accelerated production timeline proposed by MBDA further suggests that these nations aim to maintain a high state of readiness amid shifting security dynamics.

The operational history of the Aster missile family reflects a track record of reliability and adaptability. Development began in the late 1980s under the Franco-Italian Future Surface-to-Air Family [FSAF] program, with the first qualification firings occurring in 1999.

The SAMP/T system entered operational evaluation with the French and Italian armies in 2008, marked by successful test launches against simulated targets. Naval deployments followed, with the French Navy conducting a notable Aster 30 launch from the frigate Normandie in January 2020, demonstrating its long-range interception capability.

The Aster 30 Block 1 has been in service with French and Italian SAMP/T units for several years, with documented successes in ballistic missile engagements during testing. In June 2023, Italy delivered a SAMP/T battery to Ukraine, one of five in its inventory, highlighting the system’s export potential and operational relevance in active conflict zones.