The French Ministry of Defense has issued a directive to manufacturers involved in the production of Aster anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missiles, prioritizing these orders over others. Minister Sébastien Lecornu made this announcement during an interview with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in Calvi. He explained that he had utilized administrative police powers for the first time to ensure that subcontractors prioritize military orders over civilian ones, with the Aster range receiving top priority.
One of the manufacturers affected by this directive is metallurgist Aubert et Duval, which produces special steels for various industries, including civil aeronautics and defense. The Aster 15 and 30 missiles are manufactured by MBDA in collaboration between France and Italy. These missiles have been provided to Ukraine for their anti-aircraft defense and have also been used in the Red Sea against drones fired by Houthi rebels.
Sébastien Lecornu had previously hinted at such measures at the end of March to urge manufacturers to increase production of the missiles. MBDA plans to reduce the production time of Aster missiles from 42 months to less than 18 months by 2026, with a 50% increase in production by that time. However, challenges such as complex industrial organization and customs issues between France and Italy have been hindering production ramp-up efforts.
In response to these challenges, Lecornu and Crosetto called for acceleration of production in a joint letter to MBDA, requesting deliveries starting in 2024. They also emphasized the need for a second missile assembly line in Italy to increase production capacities further. Additionally, they announced signing a letter of intent to strengthen collaboration in land arms industries between the two countries as part of an ongoing collaborative effort extending from the strategic alliance established between KNDS and Leonardo’s defense group.