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France’s New Anti-Missile Rocket Reportedly Capable of Shooting Down Hypersonic Weapons
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![Photo of Roman Kohanets]( "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
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France recently conducted tests of the Aster 30 B1NT surface-to-air missile, which is set to become part of the SAMP/T NG air defense system and is reportedly capable of intercepting even hypersonic targets; during the trials, its ability to engage targets at ranges of up to 150 km was confirmed, Naval News reported on August 1.
According to the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), the missile “intercepted its target in the upper atmosphere,” validating the system’s effectiveness against long-range ballistic threats.
The Aster B1NT missile, co-developed by France and Italy under the EUROSAM consortium, features a modernized seeker and advanced onboard computing, enabling it to intercept ballistic missiles with ranges of up to 1,000 km. This represents a substantial upgrade from the earlier Aster-30 Block 1 variant.
“The successful firing confirms the long-range performance of both the missile and the SAMP/T NG system,” the DGA noted. France plans to deploy the updated system by 2026 across its air and naval forces, with similar systems to be integrated into Italian defense platforms.
It is worth noting that Ukraine already fields two batteries of the SAMP/T system, with a third battery scheduled for delivery in October 2025. Ukrainian officials have consistently prioritized multi-layered air defense as Russia expands its use of ballistic and cruise missile attacks across Ukraine.
While the US-supplied Patriot PAC-3 remains Kyiv’s core defense against ballistic threats, the European SAMP/T NG system—with its new Aster B1NT interceptors—offers a complementary solution.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal has repeatedly emphasized cooperation with NATO allies to reinforce national air defenses, particularly against long-range missile strikes on infrastructure and civilian targets.
Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine received its first SAMP/T battery jointly from France and Italy in early 2023, and a second system supplied exclusively by Italy in mid‑2024, with a third expected to arrive in fall 2025.
