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.

Notes to editors

With industrial facilities in four European countries and within the USA, MBDA has an annual turnover of €2.6 billion and an order book of €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%).

Press contacts:

Jean Dupont

Group Head of Media Relations

 Tel: + 33 (0) 1 71 54 11 73

jean.dupont@mbda-systems.com

Mobile: + 33 (0) 6 33 37 64 66

United Kingdon

Conal Walker

Tel: + 44 (0) 14 38 75 20 53

conal.walker@mbda-systems.com

Mobile: +44 (0) 77 64 32 40 84       

Italia

Michele Lastella

Tel: +39 (0) 6 41 97 31 38

michele.lastella@mbda-systems.com

Mobile: +39 (0) 3 35 32 60 45    

Internet :  www.mbda-systems.com