On October 17, 2025, the French Navy achieved a groundbreaking success in its air defense capabilities. The Horizon-class frigate Forbin successfully neutralized a live A2SM/AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire) guided munition launched from a Rafale M fighter jet. According to an announcement by the French Navy, the Aster 30 surface-to-air missile used to intercept the munition marked the first live demonstration of a warship destroying an air-launched precision-guided munition. This test not only demonstrated the superiority of the Forbin’s combat system but was also regarded as a significant step in strengthening the Navy’s multi-layered defense shield against new-generation air threats.
PAAMS and the Aster 30 Missile: A Shield Against Next-Generation Threats
The Aster 30 missile, integrated into the Forbin frigate (Principal Anti-Air Missile System), is designed to neutralize a wide range of air threats, including supersonic platforms, maneuvering missiles, and guided munitions. What made this engagement historic was the nature of the target. The AASM is not a traditional bomb; it is a modular, precision-guided air-to-ground munition capable of autonomous mid-course correction, high-G maneuvers, and low radar cross-section (RCS) profiles. With these capabilities, the AASM presents a challenging and agile target for ship defense systems.
To overcome this challenge, the French Navy structured the test around a complex scenario. The test simulated an attack in which the AASM was launched from a long distance and approached the ship at low altitude and high speed. This scenario served as a realistic test against the threats posed by high-speed, low-altitude guided munitions that ships may encounter in modern naval warfare.
Technical Details of the Engagement and the Aster 30’s Precision
The test began with the Forbin using the multi-function Héraklès radar, developed by Thales, to detect and track the incoming AASM in real time. PAAMS, a joint air defense system developed by France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, calculated an intercept solution within seconds, and an Aster 30 missile was launched from the ship’s Sylver A50 vertical launch system.
The Aster 30 achieved a direct hit on the incoming munition before it reached the terminal phase, securing a direct hit. This success clearly validated both the rapid responsiveness of the fire control system and the guidance accuracy of the Aster 30. The missile’s technical superiority stems from its use of an active radar seeker with an extended engagement envelope exceeding 120 km and the PIF-PAF (Pilotage en Force – Pilotage Aérodynamique Fort) system, which is critical for its maneuverability in the terminal phase. PIF-PAF provides high maneuverability in the terminal phase by using traditional aerodynamic controls and central thrusters. This agility is vital for intercepting guided munitions capable of high-speed dives and following unpredictable trajectories.
The Success of the AASM Guided Weapon and the Aster Family
The AASM (L’armement Air-Sol Modulaire) is a precision-guided air-to-ground munition used on Rafale fighter jets operated by the French Air and Naval Forces. As the French equivalent of American JDAM kits, it is designed to be integrated into 250 kg free-fall bombs. Consisting of a guidance unit and a range-extender kit, the AASM can be equipped with various guidance kits such as Inertial-GPS, Infrared Imager, or Laser. This modular and jam-resistant system enables simultaneous, high-precision strikes against both stationary and moving targets.
The Aster missile family, meanwhile, has already proven its effectiveness in naval warfare. It was first deployed in late 2023 when the French Navy frigates Languedoc and Alsace engaged Houthi drones and missiles in the Red Sea, during which more than 22 missiles were fired. Comprising two main variants—the Aster 15 and the Aster 30—this missile family is capable of engaging UAVs, low-radar-cross-section fighter aircraft, supersonic anti-ship missiles, and maneuvering short-range ballistic missiles.
The Forbin frigate’s successful interception of a live AASM guided munition launched from a Rafale M using the Aster 30 marks a critical milestone in the evolution of naval air defense systems. This test demonstrated that naval platforms can provide effective defense not only against traditional aircraft and missile threats, but also against high-speed, low-RCS, highly maneuverable precision-guided munitions such as the AASM. With this historic achievement, the French Navy has proven that it is prepared to face the complex and evolving threats of the future maritime battlefield.
