MBDA Aster surface to air missile to be tested against supersonic target

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Naval Forces News - France
 
 
 
MBDA Aster surface to air missile to be tested against supersonic target
 
The Marine Nationale (French Navy) will test the naval version of the Aster 30 against a US made GQM 163A Coyote simulating a sea skimming supersonic anti-ship missile. This follows the succesful interception of an Israeli made Black Sparrow missile (simulating a SCUD missile) by Aster SAM.

The GQM-163 Coyote is a supersonic seaskimming target built by Orbital Sciences and used by the United States Navy since 2006 for target practice.
     
The Marine Nationale (French Navy) will test the naval version of the Aster 30 against a US made GQM 163A Coyote simulating a sea skimming supersonic anti-ship missile. This follows the succesful interception of an Israeli made Black Sparrow missile (simulating a SCUD missile) by Aster SAM.
GQM 163A Coyote
(picture: Orbital Science)

     
The GQM 163A Coyote flies at Mach 2,5 (3000 km/h) with an altitude of less than 5 meters and it can conduct evasive maneuvers. It was designed to simulate the Russian made missiles that Western fleets may face such as the SS-N-22 (P-270 Moskit), SS-N-26 (P-800 Oniks, Yakhont) or the Brahmos.
     
The Marine Nationale (French Navy) will test the naval version of the Aster 30 against a US made GQM 163A Coyote simulating a sea skimming supersonic anti-ship missile. This follows the succesful interception of an Israeli made Black Sparrow missile (simulating a SCUD missile) by Aster SAM.
Aster 15 launched from the French nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
(picture: MBDA)

     
The Aster familly of SAM missiles (15 and 30) made by MBDA has established itself as a technical success. They are the result of cooperation between France and Italy

From: Jean-Dominique Merchet blog