Astrium selected by NATO, Expanding ballistic missile defence

• Astrium selected to help define missile defence system for NATO

Astrium has been selected by NATO to define the first step of the systems architecture for its territorial ballistic missile defence programme.

The September 2011 contract follows on from the decision taken at the Lisbon Summit in November 2010 to provide NATO with an additional capability to protect Europe. The contract involves defining within a year the requirements to expand the existing theatre missile defence into a territory ballistic missile defence.


Astrium, the European leader in space systems and technologies, is a member of the industry team selected by NATO to implement the initial definition phase of its ballistic missile programme.

Astrium has been a key player in NATO's ballistic missile defence programme since 2001. The company is uniquely qualified for this role by virtue of its long experience and unrivalled expertise in the field of the ballistic battlespace in Europe, both as prime contractor for the ballistic missiles deployed by the French deterrent forces and through its space rendezvous knowhow acquired in connection with the ATV space cargo vessel.

In anticipation of future operational requirements, Astrium has developed a family of exo-atmospheric interceptors, named Exoguard, in an effort to advance technological research in a wide range of analysis techniques, from threat evaluation and weapon assignment to detailed modelling and simulation and vector and interception vehicle architectures.

Source : Astrium