France signs Aster missile upgrade contract

France signs Aster missile upgrade contract
by Ryan Maass
Paris (UPI) Jan 13, 2016

France's defense procurement agency, DGA, has signed a contract with the Eurosam consortium to upgrade the Aster surface-to-air missile.

The contract funds the Block 1 New Tech program, which aims to enhance the intercept range of Aster missiles. Eurosam, which comprises both Paris-based defense contractor Thales and MBDA Missile Systems, says the upgrades will focus on strengthening the missile's use in anti-tactical ballistic missile missions.

The contract signing follows the Monday signing of a memorandum of understanding by Britain, France and Italy to maintain and improve the Aster missile system.

The Aster missile comes in two main variants, including the Aster 15 for short to medium ranges, and the Aster 30 for short to long ranges. The 683-pound Aster 15 missiles are capable of reaching speeds of Mach 3 when launched. Both variants are designed to be highly maneuverable in combat.

The missiles are currently used by naval forces in Italy, France and the United Kingdom.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com

Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks

del.icio.us

Digg

Google

Previous Report

Raytheon SeaRAM intercepts target with new missile variant
Tucson (UPI) Jan 11, 2016
Raytheon's latest anti-ship missile variant intercepted an incoming target from a SeaRAM missile system during a U.S. Navy live-fire exercise. Company officials say the SeaRAM system successfully tracked and engaged inbound threats, firing a Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2 for the first time. The system was configured with a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System for the test, similar to how t ... read more

Aegis Combat System upgrade gets Navy approval

Serbia requests missile defense systems from Russia

Cavalier AFS significant link to missile warning/space defense

South Korea, Japan Should Host US THAAD Missiles: Cohen

Lockheed Martin's HIMARS achieves 1 million operational hours

Iraq requests Hellfire and Captive Air Training missiles

US missile disappears, turns up in Cuba: WSJ

Oman seeks TOW 2B missiles from United States

Iraq drone strike mistake kills 9 militiamen: spokesman

Israeli-made AirMule UAV performs first untethered flight

Pentagon award to recognize US drone operators

Germany to buy Israeli drones which can be weaponised: minister

General Dynamics MUOS-Manpack radio supports government testing of MUOS network

Raytheon to produce, test Navy Multiband Terminals

ADS to build one of two satellites for future COMSAT NG system

Thales and Airbus to supply French military satellite communications

Indian Army likely to get K9 Vajra-T howitzers

Hundreds of vehicles ordered for French Special Forces

US general fears military will lower standards for women

Saab to provide more equipment for U.S. Army combat vehicles

Sweden shuts defense export agency

Growth tipped for world's defense, aerospace sectors

Germany rethinking arms sales to Saudi Arabia

Germany warns Saudi Arabia it may review military exports

Vietnam warns China over air safety threat

U.K., Japan deepen defense ties, pursue joint projects

Philippines welcomes more US forces to counter China

Beijing asserts right to flights to South China Sea

Mechanical properties of nanomaterials are altered due to electric field

New approach for controlled fabrication of carbon nanostructures

Building better fighter planes and space ships

Program seeks ability to assemble atom-sized pieces into practical products

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.