SAMP/T Aster 30 Intercepts Tactical Ballistic Missile Target

The Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain (SAMP/T) air defense system from Eurosam was again tested against a simulated 300 km range tactical ballistic missile target that was launched from an aircraft.

After the target was acquired by the ARABEL multi-function radar, a Aster 30 B1 missile was fired and scored a direct hit against the target. Two other successful tests had been carried out earlier in 2010 and 2011.

The SAMP/T system is part of the Aster family of surface-to-air missiles (SAM), which are designed for:

• Point defense on naval platforms with Aster 15
• Area defense on naval platforms with Aster 30
• Area defense on land platforms with Aster 30

The SAMP/T fulfills the third requirement. An upgraded Aster 30 Block 2 Ballistic Missile Defense version is under development.

The SAMP/T is usually mounted on eight-wheeled trucks with up to eight vertically launched Aster 30 missiles. Each two-stage Aster 30 missile has:

• a length of 4.9 m
• a weight of 450 kg
• a maximum range of 120 km
• a maximum altitude of 20 km
• a maximum speed of Mach 4.5

The Aster 30 missile is guided by an active radar seeker.

Eurosam has so far delivered 14 SAMP/T units to Italy and France. Ten of those will be deployed in 5 French air defense squadrons, of which 4 are currently equipped or being equipped.

The remaining four SAMP/T units, that have been delivered, currently serve in a single Italian regiment in Mantova. The regiment is to have a total of five units. The SAMP/T may also be exported to Turkey and Singapore.


http://www.mbda-systems.com/mediagallery/#/news/3039

By Georges Seguin [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

By Duch.seb [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons