Development of New ASTER 30 and Modernisation of SAMP/T
On 20 December 2016 OCCAR confirmed Amendment 1 of the B1NT programme contract to EUROSAM, a consortium of MBDA and Thales. This amendment formalises Italy’s participation in the programme, following commitments made in December 2015 and June 2016.
The Block 1 NT (New Technology) programme covers further development of the ASTER 30 missile as well as modernisation of the SAMP/T systems currently in French Air Force and Italian Army service. Capabilities against a range of threats are to be enhanced, particularly against ballistic missiles. The new ASTER 30 will be a missile common to both terrestrial and marine environments – Italy has confirmed it intends to deploy the missile on its new class of OPVs currently under construction. MBDA CEO Antoine Bouvier commented “The Italian notification strengthens the ASTER programme well beyond the financial and technological contribution. Once again, cooperation in Europe adds up to far more than the sum of its parts. After the current ASTER 30 Block 1, which gave Europe its first defence capability against theatre ballistic missiles, the ASTER 30 Block 1 NT will allow to extend this capability to more complex threats and will also deal with the emerging threat of Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles (ASBM).”
The ASTER 30 Block 1 NT missile, fired from land- and sea-based platforms, will provide French and Italian forces with improved capabilities against a range of threats, including ballistic missiles. (Photo: MBDA)
