MBDA and Thales sign Aster 30 seeker production contract
16 June 2005
Fabrizio Giulianini, Managing Director of MBDA Italia and Bruno Delacour, Director Missile Electronics of Thales' air systems activities, have signed today the production contract for the seekers and proximity fuzes (both of which are under the prime contractorship of MBDA Italia) for the Aster 30 missile. This vertically launched missile will be employed in the SAMP-T (ground) and PAAMS (naval) air defence systems. SAMP-T and PAAMS are elements of the major FSAF Phase 3 contract signed by OCCAR in 2003.
Following the signing, Fabrizio Giulianini and Bruno Delacour commented: "this contract is the result of a long and fruitful cooperation between French and Italian industry in the area of seeker technology".
This contract follows on from the one signed between MBDA and Thales at the 2003 Le Bourget Air Show which outlined the cooperation between the two companies.
The Aster 30 seeker draws on extensive expertise gained from other MBDA missiles, air-to-air MICA, the surface-to-air Aster 15 and most recently METEOR, the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM).
The industrial activity linked to today's contract will see continued cooperation between the two companies over the next ten years.
Notes to editors
SAMP/T is the land-based medium-range area defence system using the Aster 30 (120km range) missile for the French and Italian armies as well as the French air force. The Aster 30 missile system will offer high-level tactical and strategic mobility and thanks to its high rate of fire will be capable of countering saturating threats.
PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System) is the self, local and fleet air defence system (using Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles) that will equip the next generation of UK Royal Navy destroyers (the Type 45) and the Horizon / Orizzonte frigates of the French and Italian navies.
FSAF (Future Surface to Air Family) Phase 3 was signed in November 2003 with provision for 12 SAMP/T systems for France (for the army and the airforce) and six for Italy. This includes the evolved Block 1 version of the missile which, with its extended TBMD capability, will be capable of intercepting missiles of the 600km class.
With an annual turnover exceeding € 3 billion, a forward order book of over €13 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%).
About Thales
Thales is an international electronics and systems group, serving defence, aerospace, services and security markets. The group employs 60,000 people worldwide and generated revenues of 10.3 billion in 2004.
Press contacts :
Thales
Laurence Luyckx - Hamalainen
Tel : + 33 (0) 6 32 66 26 17
MBDA
Louis Bordes
Tel : + 33 (0) 6 30 48 78 24
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