MBDA successfully completed a programme of firings that demonstrate the effectiveness of the Aster 30 missile.  Over the last month, firings were carried out from the Italian Orizzonte frigate “Andrea Doria”, the French Horizon frigate “Forbin” and the UK trials barge “Longbow” at two different ranges in the Mediterranean.
The trials were conducted over a range of scenarios of steadily increasing complexity, culminating in a final trial featuring a salvo firing against a sea skimming target performing a high-g terminal manoeuvre.  All the trials were fully successful with both the PAAMS ship equipment and Aster missiles operating as expected in each case.  This draws to a close the complex and high intensity investigation launched within MBDA after problems encountered in two firing trials last year.

Antoine Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer, said: “These successful firing trials demonstrate that MBDA has fully mastered the technical issue with the Aster strake that was uncovered last year on recent missile manufacturing. The trials have been completed in support of making sure our domestic customers are in position to deploy the full operational capability of the PAAMS(E) system with the French and Italian navies and the Sea Viper system with the Royal Navy later this year.