Aster 15 -30 France SAM

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Aster is a family of surface-to-air missiles manufactured by Eurosam, a European consortium consisting of MBDA France, MBDA Italy (combined 66%) and the Thales Group (33%).

The Aster family was developed to perform three distinct missions:

  • Ship point defence — using Aster 15 surface-to-air anti-missile missile (SAAM) as used on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (SAAM-FR), the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour (SAAM-IT) and selected for the 22 French/Italian FREMM multipurpose frigates.
  • Ship local and area defence — Integrated Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) using Aster 15 and 30 missiles, selected by Italian, French and British navies. PAAMS delivered by EUROPAAMS consortium, another MBDA/Thales partnership.
  • Ground-based area defenceSuperficie-Aria Media Portata Terrestre (Italian for Ground-based Surface-to-Air Medium Range, SAMP/T) using batteries of Aster 30 missiles. France has demonstrated the feasibility of destroying medium range ballistic missile.

Aster 15 and 30 missiles differ only in the size of their booster - total weights being 310 kg and 450 kg respectively. Aster 30 requires the longer tubes of the SYLVER A50 launcher, but its range is extended from 30 kilometres (19 mi) to 120 kilometres (75 mi). Aster 30 is also capable of ballistic missile defense.

Aster features two significant improvements over the previous generation of missiles:

Maneuverability

New control system: control flaps are associated with four powder maneuver rockets at the center of gravity of the missile (also referred to as PIF-PAF for Pilotage induit en force—Pilotage aĆ©rodynamique en force). The system prevents a rupture of the missile under high-g maneuvers during trajectory corrections, and allows such maneuvers to be performed without losing aerodynamic performances, improving the precision of the impact on target. A standard launch of the Aster can include 90-degree trajectory changes.

Radars

The shipboard radar fulfills roles of sentry, meteo, target discrimination, acquisition and chase. It is capable of simultaneously tracking 300 flying objects, discriminating around 60, and guiding up to 16 missiles.

Aster Missile
Type Aster 15
Short/medium range surface-air anti-aircraft and anti-missile missile
Aster 30
Long range anti-aircraft, anti-missile missile and anti-ballistic missile.
Service history
In service 2001
Production history
Manufacturer MBDA
Specifications
Weight 310 kg (Aster 15)
510 kg (Aster 30)
Length 4.2 m
Diameter 180 mm

Warhead Directed fragmentation
Detonation
mechanism
Proximity

Engine Solid propellant two-stage rocket
Operational
range
1.7–30 km (Aster 15)
3–120 km (Aster 30)
Flight altitude 13 km maximum (Aster 15)
20 km (Aster 30)
Speed Mach 3 (1000 m/s) (Aster 15)
Mach 4.5; 1,400 m/s (Aster 30)
Guidance
system
Telemetry uplink, terminal active radar homing
Launch
platform
Aster 15 :
  • France: Charles de Gaulle, Horizon class frigate, Aquitaine class frigate, FREDA class frigate (project)
  • Italy: Cavour, Horizon class frigate
  • Singapore: Formidable class frigates
  • UK: Type 45 destroyer
  • Saudi Arabia: Al Riyadh class frigate (Sawari II)

Aster 30 :

  • UK: Type 45 AAW Destroyer
  • France/Italy: Horizon class frigate, FREDA class frigate (project)
  • Singapore: Formidable class frigates
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