In a significant milestone for European integrated air defense capabilities, the French Navy’s Horizon-class frigate Forbin (D620) has successfully intercepted an incoming AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire) guided bomb using an MBDA Aster 30 surface-to-air missile. The test marks the first known successful engagement of a precision-guided glide bomb by a naval platform using the long-range surface-to-air missile system.
First Operational Intercept of a Guided Bomb by Naval SAM
The test took place off the coast of France in October 2025 as part of a broader evaluation campaign focused on countering complex aerial threats. According to official releases from the French Ministry of Armed Forces and MBDA, the Forbin tracked and engaged an incoming AASM Hammer—a GPS/INS-guided glide bomb developed by Safran—using its Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS), which integrates the MBDA-developed Aster family of interceptors.
The interception was achieved using an Aster 30 Block 1 missile launched from the Sylver vertical launch system (VLS) aboard the Forbin. The target was reportedly simulating a high-speed terminal attack profile representative of modern standoff munitions or cruise missiles. This successful engagement demonstrates PAAMS’ ability to defeat not only traditional aircraft and anti-ship missiles but also advanced precision-guided munitions (PGMs).
Aster 30 Capabilities and Role within PAAMS
The Aster 30 is a vertically-launched active radar homing surface-to-air missile co-developed by Eurosam—a consortium comprising MBDA France, MBDA Italy, and Thales Group. Designed for area air defense against high-performance aircraft and supersonic sea-skimming missiles, it has also evolved into a credible ballistic missile interceptor in its Block 1 NT configuration.
Key specifications include:
- Range: Up to ~120 km (Block 1); extended range variants under development
- Speed: Over Mach 4.5
- Guidance: Inertial navigation with mid-course updates and active radar seeker terminal phase
- Warhead: High-explosive blast-fragmentation with proximity fuze
Integrated into PAAMS aboard Horizon-class frigates like Forbin and Chevalier Paul (France), as well as Type 45 destroyers (UK) and Andrea Doria-class destroyers (Italy), the system provides multi-layered air defense coverage including simultaneous tracking and engagement of multiple threats.
AASM Hammer as Simulated Threat Vector
The target used in this intercept test was an AASM Hammer—a family of modular air-to-ground precision weapons developed by Safran Electronics & Defense. The weapon combines standard general-purpose bombs (250 kg class) with guidance kits offering GPS/INS or infrared/semi-active laser terminal homing. With wings for extended range (~50 km when launched at altitude), it represents a credible stand-in for standoff PGMs increasingly proliferating among peer adversaries.
This test scenario reflects growing concern among NATO navies about defending against low-RCS glide bombs that can be launched from aircraft well outside shipboard radar horizons. By demonstrating interception capability against such targets, PAAMS-equipped vessels like Forbin bolster their utility in contested littoral or expeditionary environments where layered defense is critical.
Strategic Implications for European Naval IADS
This successful intercept underscores several strategic trends:
- Evolving Threat Spectrum: Modern naval platforms must now contend not only with traditional anti-ship cruise missiles but also PGMs like glide bombs that may be harder to detect due to small signatures and steep terminal dives.
- Lethality vs Survivability: As adversaries field more precise long-range strike options—including loitering munitions—naval forces require robust kinetic defenses beyond soft-kill ECM or decoy systems.
- Interoperability & Standardization: The PAAMS/Aster architecture is shared across multiple NATO fleets; validated performance against new threat classes enhances alliance-wide deterrence posture.
The test also aligns with broader European efforts to enhance integrated air and missile defense across land-sea domains. France’s participation in NATO’s IAMD initiatives and its support for future systems like SAMP/T NG further reflect this trajectory.
A Glimpse at Future Developments
This milestone may influence future procurement strategies both within France and across Europe. Potential implications include:
- Sylver VLS Upgrades: Increased interest in expanding VLS capacity aboard existing platforms to accommodate more interceptors per vessel.
- Aster Block Evolution: Continued development of extended-range variants such as Block 1NT or Block 2 BMD could enhance coverage against hypersonic threats or TBMs.
- C-UAS/C-PGM Integration: Complementary systems such as laser-based C-UAS or hard-kill short-range interceptors may be layered atop long-range SAMs like Aster for full-spectrum protection.
Conclusion: From Capability Demonstration to Operational Readiness
The French Navy’s successful use of an Aster 30 missile to defeat an incoming guided bomb marks more than just a technical achievement—it validates doctrinal assumptions about future threat environments where ships must defend themselves not only from aircraft but from precision standoff weapons launched beyond visual range. As navies worldwide reassess their defensive postures amid evolving aerial threats, tests like this one offer critical data points shaping next-generation maritime integrated air defense systems.
