The Italian Navy has conducted a live-fire test of an Aster 30 missile, manufactured by MBDA, from the Raimondo Montecuccoli (P432) offshore patrol vessel.
Delivered in 2023, the ship is part of the Thaon di Revel class and is configured in the “Light+” variant under the Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura (PPA) program — sitting between the patrol-focused “Light” and combat-ready “Full” versions.
The test is part of efforts to validate the vessel’s ability to counter aerial threats, as the P432 is equipped with the SAAM-ESD (Extended Self Defence) air defense system.
A similar test was conducted in February 2025 by the Giovanni delle Bande Nere (P434), a “Full” configuration vessel of the same class, as part of the system’s qualification process, as per Naval News.
SAAM-ESD
The SAAM-ESD is an advanced naval air defense system integrated on the Italian Navy’s PPA vessels and FREMM (European Multi-Mission Frigate) platforms.
It is designed for point and local area defense, using Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles to counter aircraft, anti-ship missiles, and other aerial threats, including uncrewed systems.
The air defense system integrates with Leonardo’s Kronos active electronically scanned array radars, as well as Naval Group’s Sylver A50 vertical launchers.
PPA Program
Fincantieri built the Thaon di Revel-class, also known as the PPA, for the Italian Navy.
While some specifications differ per configuration, the PPA vessels generally have an overall length of 143 meters (469 feet).
The Light+ P432 offshore patrol vessel has a full displacement of 5,880 tonnes, and can achieve a maximum speed of around 27 knots (50 kilometers/31 miles per hour) and a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 kilometers/5,753 miles).
