MBDA has delivered the first batch of ASTER air defence missiles under a fast-tracked production initiative led by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR).
The Franco-Italian defence group delivered the munitions less than two and a half years after the joint order was placed. The programme, which includes France, Italy and the United Kingdom, aims to produce nearly 1,000 ASTER missiles to replenish and enhance European air defence stockpiles.
According to MBDA, this first batch represents only the beginning. The company has committed to more than halving ASTER production lead times by 2026 and delivering five times more units in 2025 than initially planned.
“The delivery of the first ASTER missiles that benefited from significantly reduced production times is a success for all MBDA teams,” said Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA. “It demonstrates our commitment to working alongside our customers to ensure the ramp-up of our industrial facilities and the strengthening of our defence industrial and technological base.”
The acceleration follows the signing of additional contracts in February 2025 that supplemented the original December 2022 order. The latest agreement formalised fast-tracked procurement for all three partner nations and reflects growing urgency to restock and modernise integrated air defence systems.
MBDA has made significant capital investments to support the effort. Key production sites in Bourges and Selles-Saint-Denis in France, and Fusaro in Italy, have been expanded. The firm has also stockpiled raw materials, recruited new personnel, and supported supply chain partners to meet heightened demand.
Between 2023 and 2025, MBDA expects to double its overall missile output. Looking ahead, the company has committed to investing €2.4 billion between 2025 and 2029 to ensure sustainable growth and resilience in its missile production capacity.
ASTER missiles, which form the core of the Franco-Italian SAMP/T and PAAMS air defence systems, have seen recent operational deployment in contested environments such as the Red Sea and Ukraine. The ramp-up is expected to ensure that France, Italy and the UK maintain and expand their strategic capacity to defend airspace and support NATO missions.
I think there is a need for as many of these as it is possible to make – possibly more.
Do we know how many extra the UK has ordered?
Great that production increasing, but the cost of these vs attacking drone etc is not sustainable in any long term conflict.
Need to identity and mature the cheaper defensive options
CAMM is cheaper for a missile based system, as well as being UK manufactured. Airburst rounds are an even cheaper option for anti-drone use, they will almost certainly be used on the 57mm and 40mm cannons on the T31s, and potentially the 5″ gun on T26. I believe airburst munitions were shelved for the 4.5″ on the T45s, but now there is a good reason to reverse that. Realistically, DS30M and Phalanx on T26 and the carriers will have no trouble shredding drones, but their limited range might be a bit too close for comfort.
The standard munition for 4.5” is triple fused so can do air burst.
What wasn’t upgraded was the software module for AAW gunnery.
In that case there is even less of an excuse to not make the the 4.5″ gun AAW capable, a software upgrade requires less investment than making new munition types.
Phalanx vs drone, range isn’t an issue, even if the drone is supersonic.
True – often missed in the drone conversations.
But do you want to deplete Phalanx reloads when you could drop a drone at a longer range with a few 40mm shells?
That is where the but comes in – what is the drone is carrying Martlet type missile(s) then you need to keep the reaction times which is what distance gives.
Better to focus on something made in the UK like CAMM MR. If we need something very high end for ballistic missiles then go SM3 and SM6 in reduced numbers. Italy buys CAMM from us but’s I don’t think France buys anything.
We are not really participating in the Aster program just buying from France and there are more capable high end and cheaper medium end missiles available.
T83 should go for CAMM MR, SM3/6 load out.