France, Italy and the United Kingdom are stepping up production of Aster missiles for their air defense systems.
France, Italy and the United Kingdom have formalized a joint order for 218 additional Aster missiles from the manufacturer MBDA, via OCCAr. The aim is to increase the land and naval air defense capabilities of the three countries and to speed up the deliveries initially planned. This approach reflects the growing pressure on the European arms industry and illustrates a clear strategic shift towards the rapid replenishment of stocks. The contract covers the Aster 30 B1 and Aster 15 missiles used in the SAMP/T NG systems and air defense frigates. The geopolitical context requires States to secure their industrial autonomy and adapt production lines to stricter military schedules.
A joint order with immediate operational implications
The contract signed under the aegis of OCCAr commits the three countries to restock and strengthen their Aster 30 B1 and Aster 15 missile capabilities. France, Italy and the United Kingdom are thus strengthening their tactical autonomy in direct response to the rapid depletion of stocks due to persistent geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
The 218 new missiles are in addition to the missiles already ordered for the end of 2022, bringing the total number of units in production to over 350. MBDA relies on a network of subcontractors including Thales, Avio and KNDS Ammo, each of which is mobilized to accelerate production rates. The contract also stipulates the early delivery of 134 missiles between 2025 and 2026, as opposed to an initial schedule that was more spread out until 2028.
This pace is dictated by the need to guarantee a rapid response capability against cruise missiles, armed drones and theater ballistic systems. The SAMP/T NG system, intended for French and Italian land forces, incorporates the Aster 30 B1, capable of intercepting a target at a distance of up to 120 km at more than Mach 4.5. The Aster 15 version, meanwhile, is reserved for naval vessels, with a range of 30 km and the ability to strike highly mobile air targets.
This type of contract is a clear indicator that European countries can no longer be content with maintaining minimum stocks. Recent conflicts demonstrate that the ability to reload weapon systems quickly is a deterrent factor that is just as important as their range or sophistication.
Acceleration of production: a test for the European defense industry
The stated objective of increasing production rates requires industrial realignment to almost permanent mobilization standards. The main challenge is the ability of MBDA and its partners to maintain continuous production lines without interruption or critical dependence on certain components.
The European industry remains very vulnerable with regard to certain strategic parts. Key elements of guidance, warheads and propellants require specific materials and very few suppliers. In 2023, the French Directorate General of Armaments was already reporting an average delay of 24 to 36 months for certain critical components.
Industrial adaptation also relies on anticipating military logistical needs. MBDA has had to restructure several sites, particularly those in Bourges and Selles-Saint-Denis, to increase final processing capacities. The unit cost of an Aster 30 B1 missile is estimated at 2.5 to 3 million euros, compared with 1 to 1.5 million euros for the Aster 15, which implies a budgetary effort of more than 600 million euros for new orders alone.
This contractual policy is part of a strategy of direct support for the European industrial sector, in contrast to past strategies of supply fragmentation. By pooling orders, OCCAr enables significant economies of scale and more fluid coordination between user countries.
Strategic consequences: towards standardization of European interoperability
Beyond the capacity rationale, this joint procurement is part of a drive to standardize European air defense systems. By using the Aster missile as a tactical reference, the three States are strengthening their interoperability in joint theaters of operation. This also makes it possible to pool training, spare parts and engagement doctrines.
The SAMP/T NG systems are now considered to be the European pillar of the medium-range anti-aircraft shield, capable of dealing with subsonic, supersonic and ballistic vectors. The Aster 30 B1 missile is particularly distinguished by its active guided terminal maneuvering capability, without the need for ground radar guidance during the final approach, which reduces the vulnerability of radar units to jamming or saturation.
At NATO level, the widespread use of this missile would allow for partial standardization of stocks, a critical factor in the event of massive engagement or cross-support between allies. However, differences remain: Germany favors the less expensive IRIS-T SLM systems, while Spain remains behind on the Aster systems.
This joint choice also raises the question of strategic sovereignty in the face of imports of non-European missiles. By strengthening MBDA’s position in arsenals, the signatory states are supporting an autonomous industrial capacity in the face of North American industrialists such as Raytheon (Patriot) or Lockheed Martin (THAAD).
Growing political and budgetary pressure on governments
Increased defense spending is coming up against complex budgetary realities. In France, the Military Programming Act 2024-2030 provides for a gradual increase to 413 billion euros, with a significant portion dedicated to ammunition and interception systems. This policy orientation is accompanied by a refocusing on the reconstitution of stocks, breaking with the logic of structural economy imposed for two decades.
The United Kingdom is following a similar trajectory with a target of 2.5% of GDP for defense by 2030, or around 80 billion euros per year, with a significant portion for the Army Modernization Plan and ground-to-air defense systems. Italy, for its part, is seeking to stabilize its military spending at around 1.5% of GDP, or 30 to 35 billion euros per year, but is facing internal criticism over the appropriateness of these efforts.
This economic reality requires clear investment choices. The Aster missile becomes a political indicator here, revealing the acceptance of a doctrine of use focused on operational resilience rather than on pure technological effect.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.