MBDA delivers first batch of ASTER missiles through OCCAR

European missile provider MBDA has delivered, through the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), the first batch of ASTER missiles from accelerated production measures that are part of the company’s ramp-up efforts.

As disclosed, this delivery comes less than two and a half years after an initial contract with OCCAR, strengthening the air defense capabilities of France and Italy, and a further contract to supplement stocks and accelerate the production of ASTER missiles, including for the United Kingdom.

The accelerated production of this first batch of missiles is a first step towards the schedule acceleration underway.

MBDA noted that the delivery confirms the company’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.

“The delivery of the first ASTER missiles that benefited from significantly reduced production times is a success for all MBDA teams.  I thank them for their ongoing efforts, as well as the industrial partners and State actors involved,” Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said.

“This acceleration will provide Italian, French and British armed forces with essential air defence systems to protect European skies, as demonstrated by the use of ASTER in the Red Sea and Ukraine, and increase NATO’s defence capabilities.“

MBDA introduced measures to ramp up production as early as 2024 to accelerate the delivery of missiles already ordered. These measures were formalized in February 2025 through the order of additional ASTER missiles for France, Italy, and the UK.

Aster 30 and Aster 15 missiles are two-stage missiles with a common terminal vector and accelerators. The Aster 30 missile can engage both conventional and rudimentary ballistic targets. The Aster 15 missile is designed to counter saturating attacks by maneuvering missiles, fighter aircraft, and slow-moving aircrafts such as maritime patrol or airborne early warning aircraft.

The Aster 30 B1 NT (Block 1 New Technology) operation, launched at the end of 2015, aims to perpetuate the Aster munitions family and to provide it with enhanced performance to respond to the evolution of conventional and ballistic air threats.