A second Aster B1 NT (New Technology) missile, developed by Eurosam, was successfully launched from the SAMP/T air defence system according to an update from OCCAR, an organisation that manages Europe’s collaborative defence programmes, on 30 July 2025.
This qualification test – known as ‘Minerve’ – comes after the first ‘Mercure’ test in October 2024.
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Both took place in the French General Directorate of Armaments’ Essais de Missiles firing range, South West France, in the presence of the trilateral FSAF-PAAMS programme participants (France, Italy and the UK) and OCCAR representatives.
While the first trial sought to demonstrate the efficacy of the capability in a scenario representative of a complex air defence situation involving enemy and friendly aircraft, the second validated the new missile’s extended long-range capability after several improvements.
In the same stroke, this second firing qualifies the long range SAMP/T NG system, and further demonstrates the operational enhancement of the Aster B1 NT missile to intercept more difficult aerial and missiles targets.
According to OCCAR, the Aster B1NT will soon be integrated in certain French and Italian naval programmes which under the management of the organisation. It is worth noting that the two navies are constructing 18 FREMM frigates and six Logistic Support Ships under the auspices of OCCAR.
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By GlobalDataAster delivery milestone
The original equipment manufacturer of the missile, the pan-European weapons specialist MBDA, also announced the accelerated delivery of the first batch of Aster munitions about week earlier.
It comes less than two and a half years after an initial contract with OCCAR, launched in December 2022, between France and Italy, and a further contract to supplement stocks and accelerate production of Aster missiles, including for the UK.
This was later supplemented with another order in February 2025.
In the end, the contract aims to strengthen air defence systems with the production of nearly 1,000 Aster missiles for the armed forces of France, Italy, and the UK.
The delivery confirms the group’s ability to meet its commitment to reducing the production lead-time of Aster missiles in 2026 by more than half compared to 2022, and deliver five times more Aster missiles than originally planned in 2025.
This accelerated production comes as a result of recent investments and the actions. MBDA say they will continue to invest €2.4bn ($2.77bn) between 2025 and 2029.
