France, UK, and Italy have procured 220 Aster missiles for advanced aerial defence

France, the United Kingdom, and Italy are set to initiate a new procurement of approximately 220 Aster 15 and Aster 30 air defense missiles through the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), with an announcement anticipated early next week.

These air defense missiles will be utilized across various platforms within the armed forces of the three nations. The contract is expected to be awarded to Eurosam, a Franco-Italian industrial consortium that includes MBDA France, MBDA Italy, and Thales. In addition to this new order, officials in Paris, London, and Rome are expected to encourage manufacturers to accelerate delivery schedules for existing contracts.

This announcement comes on the heels of a previous agreement made in December 2022, when France and Italy commissioned Eurosam to produce approximately 700 Aster missiles. MBDA, a significant member of the consortium, has committed to reducing the production timeline for Aster missiles from 42 months in 2022 to less than 18 months by 2026, while also aiming to increase production by 50%.

In a statement from March 2024, MBDA’s Chief Executive Officer Eric Béranger highlighted this objective, affirming the company’s dedication to maintaining these efforts in the upcoming months. Additionally, the company is enhancing its integration capabilities for Aster missiles at its facility located in Selles-Saint-Denis, France.

The Aster missile family, a product of collaboration between France and Italy, is a fundamental element of contemporary European air defense systems. Established in 1989, Eurosam, formed by its parent companies, has taken the lead in the design and production of these surface-to-air missiles, which are primarily available in two versions: the Aster 15 and the Aster 30.

The Aster 15 is designed for short- to medium-range operations, boasting a range of around 30 kilometers, while the Aster 30 significantly enhances this capability, reaching distances over 120 kilometers for aircraft interception and providing defense against short-range ballistic missiles.

Both missile variants employ a sophisticated combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing, allowing them to effectively counter a wide array of aerial threats, including advanced fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, and anti-ship missiles.

The Aster 30 Block 1 variant represents an advancement over the original model, featuring enhanced seeker technology and hardware upgrades, including a proximity-fused warhead, which enables it to engage ballistic threats such as Scud-class missiles with ranges up to 600 kilometers.

With a maximum speed of Mach 4.5 and a vertical launch capability, these missiles ensure quick reaction times and adaptability in various operational scenarios.

In France, Aster missiles are utilized across both naval and terrestrial platforms. The French Navy incorporates them on ships like the Horizon-class frigates and the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, where they play a vital role in defending against aerial and missile threats.

On the ground, the French Air and Space Force employs the SAMP/T (Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain) system, referred to as MAMBA, which utilizes Aster 30 missiles to safeguard critical assets and deployed personnel.

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

In the United Kingdom, Aster 30 missiles are fitted on the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers, which are specifically designed to counter advanced air threats during maritime operations. The anticipated acquisition of 220 additional missiles is expected to enhance these systems, ensuring ongoing operational effectiveness for the armed forces of all three nations.

This procurement is set to significantly improve the defensive capabilities of France, the UK, and Italy, bolstering their capacity to address emerging aerial threats. The adaptability of Aster missiles enables them to tackle a wide spectrum of challenges, ranging from conventional air-breathing targets like fighter jets and drones to more intricate threats such as ballistic and supersonic missiles.

For both France and Italy, the integration of these missiles into the SAMP/T systems will enhance theater protection, offering a strong defense for military bases and civilian infrastructure. The UK’s Type 45 destroyers, already recognized as some of the most advanced air defense vessels globally, will gain from an expanded missile inventory, ensuring sustained deterrence in contested maritime environments.

Military analysts emphasize that the Aster 30 Block 1’s capability to intercept ballistic missiles introduces a significant strategic advantage, especially as regional tensions and the proliferation of missiles increase the demand for such defense systems. The expedited production schedule proposed by MBDA indicates that these countries are keen to sustain a high level of preparedness in response to evolving security challenges.

The operational history of the Aster missile family showcases its reliability and versatility. Development commenced in the late 1980s as part of the Franco-Italian Future Surface-to-Air Family (FSAF) initiative, with the initial qualification tests taking place in 1999.

The SAMP/T system began operational evaluation with the French and Italian armed forces in 2008, achieving successful test launches against simulated targets. Subsequent naval deployments included a significant Aster 30 launch by the French Navy from the frigate Normandie in January 2020, which demonstrated its long-range interception capabilities.

The Aster 30 Block 1 has been operational with French and Italian SAMP/T units for several years, achieving documented success in ballistic missile engagements during testing phases. In June 2023, Italy supplied a SAMP/T battery to Ukraine, one of five in its arsenal, underscoring the system’s export potential and its relevance in active conflict scenarios.

While detailed accounts of combat applications are scarce in public documentation, these achievements highlight the missiles’ established effectiveness in controlled settings and their increasing significance in international defense collaboration.

The choice to acquire more Aster missiles is in line with broader European initiatives aimed at enhancing defense expenditures and capabilities. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO allies have encountered heightened demands to improve their military readiness.

France, the UK, and Italy, as pivotal members of the alliance, have responded by focusing on air and missile defense systems. In 2021, OCCAR managed contracts for the mid-life upgrades of existing Aster inventories for all three countries, with France and Italy completing this process by December 2023.

The order placed by France and Italy in December 2022 for 700 missiles, valued at around 2 billion euros, represented a significant advancement in this area, with a subsequent order of 220 missiles reinforcing that commitment.

European leaders have stressed the importance of self-sufficiency in defense production, a viewpoint supported by French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu in March 2024, who announced an additional order of 200 Aster missiles specifically for France.

This initiative signifies a strategic transition towards minimizing reliance on non-European suppliers, as illustrated by discussions surrounding the European Sky Shield Initiative, where Germany’s inclination towards U.S.-manufactured Patriot systems has faced criticism from France.

Collaboration through OCCAR has played a crucial role in facilitating these initiatives. Established in 1996, the organization promotes joint armament programs among its member nations—Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK—while also permitting participation from non-member countries like Poland and Sweden in certain projects.

For the Aster program, OCCAR acts as the facilitator between national procurement bodies, including France’s Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) and Italy’s SEGREDIFESA, and Eurosam. This arrangement has fostered cost efficiencies and uniform production processes, allowing Eurosam to utilize the capabilities of MBDA and Thales to address growing demand.

The consortium’s efforts on the SAMP/T New Generation (NG) variant, expected to be delivered starting in 2025, exemplify this collaboration, featuring enhancements such as a 360-degree multifunction radar and an increased intercept range exceeding 150 kilometers.

As the announcement regarding the order of 220 missiles approaches, focus will shift to the execution of this contract. Eurosam’s capacity to adhere to expedited delivery timelines will be crucial, especially as MBDA increases production capabilities at Selles-Saint-Denis and other facilities.

The participation of the UK in this recent agreement, alongside France and Italy, underscores a trilateral commitment to common defense objectives. Concurrently, ongoing modernization initiatives, including the integration of the Aster 30 Block 1NT (New Technology) variant, are set to ensure these systems remain at the cutting edge of air defense technology.

As Europe faces a more unpredictable security environment, the strategic and operational ramifications of this acquisition are expected to extend well beyond the immediate delivery schedule.