Successful test firings for PAAMS

From Defense Aerospace

Successful Test Firings for Three PAAMS Program Partners

(Source: French Ministry of Defence; issued June 28, 2010)

(Issued in French only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)

On Thursday June 17, 2010, Direction Generale de l’Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, successfully carried out the test firing of two Aster 30 missiles from the Royal Navy barge Longbow. The barge was operated from the DGA Missile Test Range at Ile du Levant (Var district) on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence.

Carried out as part of the French-Italian-British Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) program, these firings were intended to validate modifications that were made to the Aster 30 missile after launch failures in 2009.

With the successful launch of Aster 30s from the Italian navy frigate Andrea Doria on May 25, 2010 and from the French navy frigate Forbin on June 1, this final test consisted of a salvo launch of two Aster 30s from the barge Longbow, representative of a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer.

The success of these launches validates the modifications designed and implemented by MBDA on certain missile components that had been subject to faulty workmanship.

This series of four Aster 30 missile launches confirms the operational capabilities of the French navy Horizon-class frigates Forbin and Chevalier Paul to operate their main weapon system, and to shortly assume their main mission of naval sir defense. (ends)

MBDA Completes Four Successful Aster Missile Firings In Less Than a Month

(Source: MBDA; issued June 28, 2010)

MBDA is pleased to announce the successful completion of a programme of firings to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Aster 30 missile. Over the last month, firings have been 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.

With industrial facilities in four European countries and within the USA, MBDA has an annual turnover of EUR 2.6 billion and an order book of EUR 12 billion. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems.

MBDA is the only group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development.

MBDA is jointly held by BAE Systems (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and Finmeccanica (25%).