MBDA Successfully Launches Two Aster Missiles From The Carrier Cavour

MBDA announces two successful launches made on May 18th and 19th to demonstrate the effectiveness of its Aster missiles. Both launches were from the Italian Navy's Cavour carrier in the Poligono Interforze di Salto di Quirra (PISQ) and were made with the assistance of MBDA.

The launches to test the effectiveness of the SAAM/IT system were carried out: one in "autonomous" (self-controlled) mode and the other in "integrated" mode, controlled by the combat system. The autonomous mode launch was intended to test the SAAM/IT system's ability to search, identify and intercept an attacking sea-skimmer missile as a direct threat to the ship herself.