Aster Missiles

military technology · France and Italy · air defense · engineering

Launches straight up. Aster missiles shoot vertically into the sky from special tubes on ships and ground bases, which helps them get a head start on attacking aircraft coming from any direction.

Named after stars. The word 'Aster' comes from Ancient Greek and means 'star,' which is perfect because these missiles zoom upward like shooting stars to protect important areas.

French-Italian teamwork. Two countries worked together to create Aster, with a French company leading the project and Italian companies joining forces to build these powerful defense systems.

Works in any weather. Unlike some missiles that need clear skies, Aster can launch and hit targets even during rain, fog, or storms because it uses advanced radar technology to find its way.

Two different sizes. There are two versions: Aster 15 for shorter distances and Aster 30 for hitting targets much farther away, so defenders can pick the right tool for each job.