By: halloweene - 6th October 2013 at 20:10
Yes. There were some nice successful trials vs short to medium range baliistics last year. There are/will be some ASTER also on FREMMs
By: swerve - 16th September 2013 at 10:18
Reviving this thread because of news from Singapore. It is to replace its I-Hawk land-based SAMs with Aster 30. Link to story.
I think this is the first export order for SAMP/T. It will give Singapore a limited ABM defence capability as well as anti aircraft defence.
In other news, Italy has declared its SAMP/T systems have reached full operational capability (IOC in France was in 2010).
By: Distiller - 12th May 2009 at 07:09
No. The French Army is losing all its Roland & Hawk systems, which won’t be replaced. However, it is gaining the Air Force’s short range Mistrals. A total of about 200 Mistral launchers will be split between the 10 combat brigades artillery regiments, with 18 launchers for most brigades and 24 launchers for a few of the larger ones.
The French Air Force will take over the Hawk’s long-range air defense role. The 10 SAMP/T batteries (i.e. 40 launchers) will be spread across the 5 most strategic airbases: Luxeuil, Istres, Mont de Marsan, Avord & St. Dizier (all bases for nuclear-capable squadrons, AWACS & refuellers). 4 of these 10 batteries (so 16 launchers) will be permanently available for use by the French Army or expeditionary missions.
Unfortunately, the older Crotale 3000 EVA systems that currently protect most French Air Bases will also be withdrawn without replacement by 2012, since they are at the end of their service lives. It’s unclear whether the 12 Crotale NG launchers, which are much newer and are split into 3 batteries at Avord, St Dizier & Istres, will be retained, redeployed to new bases or withdrawn from service.
Thanks for the info!
Are those assignements to the strategic air bases permanent, or just because they don’t know where else to put? Apart from Istres these don’t seem locations that one would identify as having an even remote likelyhood of encountering hostiles, and they are also not really positioned with fast expeditionary relocation (sealift) in mind.
By: enrr - 11th May 2009 at 20:32
Esercito Italiano (Italian Army) delivered the active batteries to the:
4° Reggimento d’artiglieria Contraerei “Peschiera” in Mantova (north of Italy) with 1 battery for training
At the begginin Italy want 288 missile for 6 batteries (2 regiment with 3 system each) but after the reduction of 1 unit the number of missile is unknow.
Italian version (with 4 launcher) on Astra 88.45 (Iveco M320.45WM) truck have a supplementar module knows as Comand Module
A single battery has (1 module per truck):
Radar Module (Arabel) – 20 feet ISO container
Electric Generation Module – 20 feet ISO container
Engage Module – 20 feet ISO container
Comand Module – 20 feet ISO container – (Italian only)
4 x Launcher Module (up to 6)
Y x Recharger Module
By: H_K - 11th May 2009 at 19:57
No. The French Army is losing all its Roland & Hawk systems, which won’t be replaced. However, it is gaining the Air Force’s short range Mistrals. A total of about 200 Mistral launchers will be split between the 10 combat brigades artillery regiments, with 18 launchers for most brigades and 24 launchers for a few of the larger ones.
The French Air Force will take over the Hawk’s long-range air defense role. The 10 SAMP/T batteries (i.e. 40 launchers) will be spread across the 5 most strategic airbases: Luxeuil, Istres, Mont de Marsan, Avord & St. Dizier (all bases for nuclear-capable squadrons, AWACS & refuellers). 4 of these 10 batteries (so 16 launchers) will be permanently available for use by the French Army or expeditionary missions.
Unfortunately, the older Crotale 3000 EVA systems that currently protect most French Air Bases will also be withdrawn without replacement by 2012, since they are at the end of their service lives. It’s unclear whether the 12 Crotale NG launchers, which are much newer and are split into 3 batteries at Avord, St Dizier & Istres, will be retained, redeployed to new bases or withdrawn from service.
By: Distiller - 11th May 2009 at 16:12
Hmm. My guess would be (active units):
# 402e Régiment d’artillerie @ Châlons-en-Champagne
Had four (now only one?) MIM-23 batteries, are for sure being equipped with SAMP/T.
Plus Mistrals.
# 54ème Régiment d’artillerie @ Hyères
Not sure here. Have five batteries of Mistral and Roland I think.
Four plus five is nine plus the one for training/testing is ten. I could imagine that the French would like to distribute the batteries a little more evenly. And what I don’t know is if the French will buy that new Crotale version and where they would be put.
By: planeman6000 - 10th May 2009 at 18:48
Re the in-service units. Any info on where they are garrisoned, which units etc? Or pics in operational service?
By: H_K - 10th May 2009 at 17:03
enrr is correct. The French recently reduced their order from 12 batteries down to 10, and from 575 missiles down to 375. 2 batteries were delivered in 2008, with 3 more to be delivered this year.
Each battery has 4 launchers, so a total of 32 missiles.
By: enrr - 10th May 2009 at 10:45
The system ordered from French Air Force are 10 and for Italian Army are 5 (we risk to buy only 3 batteries some years ago for budget trouble) and divert the missile for the six battery for FREMM program.
The first battery for both nation was delivered before dec 08.
By: kato - 10th May 2009 at 08:55
SAMP/T was ordered with 12 systems for France and 6 systems for Italy. Plus the two test systems, which have been declared operational after successful test firings. First serial system is supposed to be delivered by the end of the year (to the French Air Force).
Why would MEADS use Aster? It’s a rather clear-cut dedicated Patriot upgrade and nothing else, with development organized by Patriot users. Always has been.
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May 10, 2009 at 4:19 am