Франко-итальяндық зениттік-ракеталық кешендер отбасысы

Franco Italian surface to air missile family

Active RF seeker The name "Aster" stands for "Aérospatiale Terminale", with French company Aérospatiale having been the project's lead contractor before its missile activities were merged into MBDA. It also takes inspiration from the word "aster" (ἀστήρ), meaning "star" in Ancient Greek. The missiles as well as the related weapon systems are manufactured by Eurosam, a consortium consisting of MBDA France, MBDA Italy and Thales, each holding a 33.3% share. The Aster missiles were developed to intercept and destroy the full spectrum of air threats from high performance combat aircraft, UAVs and helicopters to cruise, anti radiation and even sea skimming supersonic anti ship missiles. The Aster 30 Block 1 and Block 1 NT were designed to counter ballistic missiles. In November 2003, Eurosam was awarded the 3 billion euro Phase 3 production contract. Full production and exports to France, Italy, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom started. as of 2012, France had spent €4.1bn at 2010 prices on 10 SAMP/T launchers, 375 Aster 30 missiles and 200 Aster 15 missiles. Another 80 Aster 30 and 40 Aster 15 were purchased for France's s under a separate programme.

There are two versions of the Aster missile family, the short medium range version, the Aster 15, and the long range version, the Aster 30. The missile bodies are identical. Their difference in range and intercept speed is because Aster 30 uses a much larger booster. Total weights of the Aster 15 and Aster 30 are and respectively. Aster 30 Block 0: Medium to long range surface to air missile. It can pull manoeuvres in excess of 50g. Aster 30 Block 1: Variant with anti ballistic missile capability; tailored to counter class short range ballistic missiles. Aster 30 Block 2 BMD – Anti ballistic missile under development and intended to counter up to class ballistic and maneuvering missiles. The Aster 30 Block 1 is used on the Eurosam SAMP/T system operated by the French Air and Space Force and the Italian Army. In 2015, France launched the development of the Block 1NT variant, a programm Italy would join in 2016. In 2022, the United Kingdom announced a series of upgrades to its Type 45 destroyers. This included the implementation of the Block 1 version for anti ship ballistic missile defense.

The Aster 30 has been incorporated by Eurosam into a mobile SAM system, fulfilling the ground based theatre air defence/protection requirement. It comes in the form of the Sol Air Moyenne Portée/Terrestre (French for "Surface to Air Medium Range/Land based"), commonly known as SAMP/T. The system uses a network of radars and sensors – including 3D phased array radar – enabling it to be effective against various air threats such as aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, standoff missiles, cruise missiles or anti radiation missiles.

In April 2008, RSS Intrepid, a of the Republic of Singapore Navy, shot down an aerial drone off the French port of Toulon during a naval exercise. Then again in 2010, a frigate of the same class, RSS Supreme fired an Aster 15 and shot down an aerial drone off the coast of Hawaii as part of exercise RIMPAC 2010. The RSN conducted 6 successful live firings of the Aster missile over 11 years. Beginning with in September 2010, all of the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers have successfully intercepted Mirach drones with Aster missiles at the Benbecula ranges off the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Mirach is a 3.96 m jet which flies at speeds of up to at altitudes as low as 3.05 m or as high as In December 2011, an Aster 30 missile downed an Israeli Black Sparrow ballistic missile target, the first time an Aster missile had attempted such an engagement. In April 2012, the , French frigate Forbin, of the French Navy downed an American GQM 163 Coyote target simulating a sea skimming supersonic anti ship cruise missile traveling at Mach 2.5 (3000 km/h) with an altitude of less than 5 metres. It was the first time a European missile defence system destroyed a supersonic sea skimming missile. The trial was described as a complex operational scenario. In 2024, during the EU operation in the Red Sea, it is likely that the French Navy utilised Aster 30 to intercept three Houthi ballistic missiles. The missile was also likely used by the Royal Navy to down another Houthi ballistic missile in April 2024.