Encompassed within the execution of an exercise aimed at reinforcing the air defense capabilities of the French Navy, the FREMM DA frigate Alsace (D656) successfully carried out the launch of an Aster 30 surface-to-air missile. The objective of the test was to intercept a simulated supersonic threat, launched from a Rafale Marine representing the attack profile of an anti-ship missile. The firing, carried out on October 7, 2025 under the supervision of the Directorate General of Armament (DGA) off the coast of France, validated the integration of sensors, combat systems, and cutting-edge weaponry under high-intensity combat conditions.
The Alsace is one of the air-defense variants of the FREMM (Frégate Européenne Multi-Mission) program, known in France as the Aquitaine class. Delivered in 2021, this unit displaces more than 6,000 tons and features a CODLOG propulsion system (combined diesel-electric and gas turbine), allowing it to reach speeds exceeding 27 knots and a range of 6,000 nautical miles. Its crew, composed of over 140 personnel, operates a sophisticated set of sensors, highlighted by the Héraklès multifunction radar, capable of detecting and tracking aerial targets at over 300 kilometers, complemented by the CAPTAS-4 and UMS 4110 CL sonars, which ensure its anti-submarine capability.
During the exercise, the frigate executed a full sequence of detection, decision, and engagement in a matter of seconds. After identifying the simulated threat—a low-flying, supersonic trajectory mimicking an anti-ship missile—the SETIS combat system processed the radar data and ordered the launch of the Aster 30 from a SYLVER A50 vertical launcher. The missile, equipped with inertial navigation, in-flight updates, and an active radar seeker, successfully intercepted the threat at low altitude. Exercises of this type allow verification of the system’s reaction capability against minimal-reaction-time attacks, characteristic of contemporary naval warfare scenarios.
The Aster 30, developed in cooperation between France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, constitutes the core of modern European air defense. With a range exceeding 100 kilometers and a speed approaching Mach 4, it combines a high-thrust motor with the PIF-PAF system, which uses aerodynamic surfaces and micro-thrusters to perform extremely precise maneuvers against maneuverable targets. Its directional fragmentation warhead, paired with a proximity fuze, optimizes detonation to maximize impact on the target’s trajectory, ensuring high effectiveness against cruise missiles and hostile aircraft.
The success of this launch reinforces the role of the Alsace as the air-defense shield of the French fleet, capable of protecting carrier groups, convoys, and amphibious forces in high-threat environments. The combination of advanced radars and actively guided missiles allows the frigate to engage multiple targets simultaneously, even under electronic warfare conditions. Furthermore, the interoperability of the Aster system with allied platforms consolidates multi-layered air defense within NATO, integrating naval and land systems into a common collective protection architecture.
Exercises of this type demonstrate the constant modernization and adaptability of the French Navy, which trains its crews to operate in high-intensity scenarios. The successful interception carried out by the Alsace not only confirms the effectiveness of the Aster 30 missile but also the high level of technical and tactical readiness of the French fleet, fully aligned with next-generation air defense standards.
*Image credits: French Navy.
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