2. ASTER-30 NT: The European Shield
With ability to intercept both conventional planes and ballistic missiles, the ASTER-30 NT (New Technology) is Europe’s best air defence missile. Its advanced PIF-PAF guidance system lets it execute last-second manoeuvres that other missiles cannot match by combining great agility with precision. Effective engagements at ranges more than 120 kilometres are made possible by the system’s dual-pulse rocket motor, which supplies constant energy throughout the flight envelope. The improved seeker of the ASTER-30 NT is quite resistant to electronic warfare techniques since it can discern between real threats and countermeasures.