The Italian Navy (Marina Militare) Bergamini class FREMM frigate, ITS Federico Martinengo (F596) carried out successfully the fourth ASTER 30 vertically launched surface-to-air missiles firing of the FREMM Programme on 04 March at 13:48. The firing took place at the PISQ , the Italian Joint Firing Range, facility located in Easter Sardinia. The Italian FREMM Anti Air Warfare Capability based on the SAAM ESD is now entrusted for ensuring protection also to consort ships through their 16 ASTER missiles (ASTER 15 or ASTER 30).
Giovanni Sorrentino, the FREMM (Fregata Europea Multi-Missione, European multi-purpose frigate) Programme Manager stated “The whole mission, planned in a such complex scenario never verified by previous firings, proves the effective cooperation among PISQ, the IT Navy personnel, the OCCAR-EA FREMM and FSAF-PAAMS Programme Divisions and the Industries involved”.
It is the fourth scheduled firing by a FREMM frigate, conducted using an instrumented telemetry missile (procured by the OCCAR-EA FSAF-PAAMS Programme Division). The qualification phase, managed by OCCAR according to the FREMM contract, was previously performed by the ITS Bergamini both in autonomous and integrated mode. This new success definitely showcases the reliability of the Surface Anti Air Missile providing both Self Defence and Extended Self Defence (SAAM ESD) system, installed on board the Italian FREMM frigates. The firing confirmed, indeed, the outstanding capabilities of the SAAM ESD against missiles simulated by a Mirach 40 target.
The Aster missile series, primarily comprising the Aster 15 and Aster 30 are a family of vertically launched surface-to-air missiles. Aster is manufactured by Eurosam, a European consortium consisting of MBDA France, MBDA Italy (combined 66%) and the Thales Group (33%). The missile is designed to intercept and destroy a wide range of air threats, such as supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles at very low altitude (Sea-skimming)[5] and fast flying, high performance aircraft or missiles.
