Firing Success for ASTER 30 Air Defence Missiles
On 1 June 2005, MBDA successfully conducted a test firing of the ASTER 30 missile. This firing took place at the DGA Landes Test Centre (CELM), in south-west France.
London, 06 June 2005
The test firing scenario involved a typical simulation of the threat to be countered by MBDA’s PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System) naval area defence system. Typically, protection of a friendly ship (or consort) being attacked by an anti-ship missile in skimming flight executing a "dog-leg" manoeuvre (90° high-load factor turn). The target was intercepted at 10 km with complete success.
Marwan Lahoud, MBDA’s Chief Executive Officer, who attended the firing, declared: “After the successful salvo firing of ASTER 15 missiles from the Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier on 25 May this year, MBDA once again demonstrated the efficiency of the ASTER air defence systems which will equip the British, Italian and French navies”.
Fabrizio Giulianini, Managing Director of MBDA Italy and Director of the multinational surface-to-air programme, added: “This gives a clear indication of how successful the ASTER family-based anti-missile programmes, including the PAAMS and the SAMP/T, will be”.
The ASTER 30 missile is common to both the naval PAAMS system and the SAMP/T land-based air defence system. This successful firing makes it possible to schedule an ASTER 30 firing in SAMP/T configuration during the second half of 2005.
The ASTER SAMP/T system will provide area defence for forces deployed in theatres of operation against high-speed aerial targets such as aircraft, UCAV’s (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles), cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles in severe ECM environments. The SAMP/T, which is air-transportable and compatible with NATO air defence systems, will be commissioned with the Italian army in 2007 and the French army and air force in 2010.
The ASTER PAAMS system was ordered by the Royal Navy and by the French and Italian navies in order to provide their fleets with area defence and self-defence capabilities as well as protecting neighbouring surface ships against all subsonic or supersonic threats such as missiles, aircraft or drones. This system will be installed on French Horizon-class frigates, Italian Orizzonte frigates and British T45 destroyers.
PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System) is an advanced naval defence system programme under the prime contractorship of EUROPAAMS, an international joint venture between MBDA (75%) and Thales (25%). This programme was launched on 11 August 1999 following the signature of a contract by the DGA between France, the UK and Italy.
Notes to editors
With an annual turnover exceeding € 3 billion, a forward order book of over €14 billion and over 70 customers world wide, MBDA is a world leading, global missile systems company. MBDA currently has 45 missile system and countermeasure programmes in operational service and has proven its ability as prime contractor to head major multi-national projects.
MBDA is jointly owned by BAE SYSTEMS (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and FINMECCANICA (25%).
Press Contacts:
Carol Reed
Group Head of External Communications
Tel.: + 44 (0) 207 451 60 99
Fax: + 44 (0) 207 451 60 89
mailto: carol.reed@mbda.co.uk
Jean-Claude Ranvier
France
Tel.: + 33 (0)1 34 88 24 41
Fax: + 33 (0)1 34 88 27 27
mailto: jean-claude.ranvier@mbda.fr
Michele Lastella
Italy
Tel.: + 39 06 41 50 31 38
Fax: + 39 06 41 50 43 00
mailto: michele.lastella@mbda.it
Mati Hindrekus
United Kingdom
Tel.: + 44 (0) 207 451 60 59
Fax: + 44 (0) 207 451 60 89
mailto: mati.hindrekus@mbda.co.uk
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