Flight International online news 14:30GMT: European missile house MBDA has test-fired its Aster 30 missile at the French DGA armament agency's test range near Biscarosse on the south west coast of France.
The firing forms part of the Principle Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) qualification programme. PAAMS will provide the main air defence on the UK Royal Navy's new Type 45 destroyers as well as on the new Horizon frigates ordered for the French and Italian navies.
The test scenario replicated an attack on an escort ship by a salvo of two missiles at close range at an altitude of 1,000 metres.The objective of the test was to successfully intercept a pre-determined target, one of two Mirach 100-5 targets that had been launched. This was intended to validate the Aster 30 missile’s ability to discriminate between targets and confirm that the missile’s seeker would not be confused by the presence of a second target in the vicinity.
Target interception was achieved at a range of 17.5 km from the Aster 30 launcher at an altitude of approximately 1,000 metres.
Source: Flight International