Following an initial successful firing in October 2024, this latest launch confirmed the missile’s long-range interception capabilities. The Aster B1NT missile, a next-generation development by eurosam, can now engage aerial targets at ranges of approximately 150 kilometres and at significantly higher altitudes.
This successful test is a key qualification step for the extended range capabilities of the SAMP/T NG air defence system. It demonstrated the missile’s enhanced ability to intercept highly challenging targets across a range of threat profiles including manoeuvrable, stealthy, and high-speed objects.
The firing represents a significant achievement for the bilateral Aster B1NT and SAMP/T NG programmes led by OCCAR on behalf of France and Italy. “Thanks to the dedication and professionalism of eurosam, MBDA and Thales teams, OCCAR, and experts from the two Nations – in particular from DGA and Segredifesa / DNA – this success is an important step forward for the development of these new cutting-edge Air Defence assets,” the press release stated.
These modern air defence systems will be delivered to the French Air and Space Force, the Italian Army, and the Italian Air Force. The Aster B1NT missile will also be integrated into other naval programmes, including the mid-life update of Horizon Frigates.
Eurosam, a Franco-Italian joint venture between MBDA and Thales, is the industrial prime contractor and design authority for Aster missile-based air defence systems. It has developed effective land and naval solutions through longstanding cooperation between France, Italy, and the UK.
Today, eurosam is the only European manufacturer offering sovereign medium and long-range air defence systems capable of countering current and emerging threats. The ASTER B1NT builds on this expertise with its unique aerodynamic structure and advanced technologies such as a Ka-band seeker, new interception algorithms, and next-generation electronics to achieve unmatched hit-to-kill performance.
The SAMP/T NG system – now enhanced by the Aster B1NT – is fully mobile, operational within 30 minutes, and able to simultaneously engage multiple threats in a 360-degree defensive envelope. It provides a strategic anti-access/area denial capability, ensuring air sovereignty and the protection of both military forces and critical infrastructure.
