Aspide missile proves worth

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ROME, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The Aspide 2000, a surface-to-air missile, has again proved its capability during live-fire air defense exercises in Kuwait, MBDA Italy said.

MBDA, a multinational consortium, said the missiles successfully destroyed two Banshee remotely piloted targets at the Kuwait Air Defence Brigade's Adeira range last month, with one target downed with a direct hit and the second by a close-range explosion.

The missiles were fired from a Skyguard air defense system and destroyed the targets at a distance of about 3.7 miles and at an altitude of more than 4,900 feet.

"These successful intercepts add to the already solid evidence of the reliability of this MBDA missile," the company said.

"This is yet another boost to the export potential of a missile that international markets are increasingly considering as one of the best performing in the medium-range ground-to-air missile sector."

The Aspide 2000 is similar to the AIM-7 Sparrow used by U.S. forces. It is used by about 18 countries.