Recently, France carried out remarkable exercises during which the FREMM-class frigate Alsace intercepted a high-speed target using an Aster 30 surface-to-air missile. The drills aimed to train the crew for high-intensity scenarios they may face in modern warfare.
The high-speed target was launched from a Rafale fighter jet and interestingly, it turned out to be a MICA-EM air-to-air missile. According to footage from the Rafale's cockpit, the frigate successfully intercepted this missile in flight.
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The challenge was immense: the MICA-EM can reach speeds of up to Mach 4 (around 4,900 km/h), while the Aster 30 interceptor's maximum speed is about Mach 4.5 (roughly 5,500 km/h). Although these are peak velocities for solid-fuel missiles, their sustained speeds remain extremely high and since the interception occurred on a head-on trajectory, it truly pushed the limits of what the Aster 30 can achieve.
These exercises not only improved crew coordination and reaction speed but also served as realistic training for defending against supersonic anti-ship missiles or intercepting other fast-moving threats passing near the vessel.
It's also worth noting that the MICA-EM is a relatively small missile just 3.1 meters long, 160 mm in diameter, and weighing 112 kg which makes the interception even more impressive.
Therefore it must be clearly detected and tracked from a sufficient distance, and then you have to hit it and at such closing speeds that is a truly difficult task requiring incredible speed and crew coordination, because there are only seconds for every action.
Also note a passage from the French Defense Ministry press release stating that the exercises demonstrate excellent characteristics of this weapon, which exceed the initial technical specifications. That apparently refers to the Aster 30, although it is unclear which specific characteristics are meant.
Regarding other missile specs: the Aster 30 is 4.9 m long, 180 mm in diameter and weighs 450 kg. Its maximum range is 120 km and its maximum interception altitude is 20 km. It uses a two-stage solid-fuel motor.
In modern variants, Aster 30 B1 and Aster 30 Block 1 NT gain the capability to intercept ballistic missiles. The MICA-EM is a radar-guided version of the MICA missile, with a maximum engagement range of up to 50 km.
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