On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the French Navy’s Air Defense FREMM Alsace successfully carried out an Aster 30 anti-aircraft missile launch against a supersonic target fired from a Rafale Marine.
French Ministry of Defence press release – Translated by Naval News
This type of firing trains crews to deal with high-intensity situations likely to be encountered by the French Navy’s combat vessels in theaters of operation. This training underlines the requirement for realism brought to the training of forces, so that they are able to effectively counter high-spectrum threats, both current and future. It demonstrates the constant adaptation of the French Navy to new forms of conflict and threats.
This firing once again demonstrates the technical and operational capabilities of the Air Defense FREMM, relying on seasoned and efficient sailors thanks to an excellent mastery of their tools and the requirements of air defense.
The Aster missiles, developed in cooperation by France, Italy and the United Kingdom, exist in two versions (the Aster 15 : adapted for self-defense; and the extended-range Aster 30 for area defense). They equip multi-mission frigates, air defense frigates and the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier , and will equip the FDI frigates. These missiles are specially designed to destroy attacking aircraft and missiles.
The training conducted demonstrates the excellent performance of this weapons system, which goes beyond the initial technical specifications.
– End –
Naval News comments:
Air Defense FREMM Alsace previously intercepted three ballistic missiles while deployed in the Red Sea.
Contacted by Naval News, the French Navy declined to comment on which missile served as target. Two sources with knowledge of the matter (who wished to remain anonymous) said the target was a special variant of the MICA air-to-air missile modified to serve as a supersonic target.
About Air Defense FREMMs
Alsace was launched April 18, 2019 at the Naval Group shipyard of Lorient thirteen months after its keel laying. It was commissioned with the French Navy in November 202. It is the ninth FREMM frigate built by Naval Group and the seventh one for the French Navy. The FREMM DA program started in 2008. The two vessels in this “sub-class” of the Aquitaine-class FREMM, Alsace and Lorraine, are replacing the two Cassard-class (Type F70 AA) frigates and their ageing SM-1 surface to air missiles.
While the FREMM DA retains the same anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities as earlier vessels of the Aquitaine-class (with CAPTAS-4 and UMS 4110 CL sonars), its so called “increased capabilities in air defense” consists in a few notable changes:
- The Thales Herakles multi-function radar is more powerful, has more transmitter modules, additional wave-forms and search modes for long range air defense
- A Thales STIR EO MK 2 fire control radar replaces the Najir by Sagem (providing better AAW and ASuW capabilities to the 76mm main gun)
- Reinforced bridge structure to accommodate the extra weight of the above
- 4x Sylver A50 vertical launch systems for a total of 32x MBDA Aster 15 or 30 surface to air missiles
- Additional communication systems and antennas
- 3x additional consoles in the CIC (the global arrangement inside the CIC has been modified accordingly) for a total of 20 aboard the ship
- Modifications to the SETIS combat management system with specific air defense functions
- Additional berthing
According to the French Navy’s FREMM program manager, the FREMM DA main mission consists in area air defense of major Marine Nationale units such as the Charles de Gaulle aircraft-carrier and the three Mistral-class LHDs, within a carrier-strike group or as part of an amphibious group.
