PRESS RELEASE
An Important Step for the FSAF Family
(Source: Eurosam; issued Oct. 21, 2002)
PARIS---On October 11th 2002, Eurosam completed the first qualification
firing of the full land-based SAMP/T system (Sol-Air Moyenne Portée
Terrestre - Land-based Medium Range Ground-to-Air).
Within the framework of the collaboration between France
and Italy, the SAMP/T qualification campaign is performed in Italy
at the “Poligono Interforze di Salto di Quirra “PISQ” Test centre
on Salto di Quirra in Sardinia.
The firing simulated a medium range interception of a subsonic
aircraft attacking at an altitude of 3,000 metres.
An SAMP/T section contains the following components:
--A Fire Control System comprising a multi-function radar
with integral identification and engagement module.
--Launchers (up to 6 vertical launch modules).
--ASTER 30 missiles.
All these components have completed sub-system qualification.
As the land-based component of the F.S.A.F. family, the SAMP/T
system is a theatre anti-missile system designed to protect the
battlefield and other sensitive sites (airports, harbours, etc.)
against all current and future threats (cruise missiles, piloted
and non-piloted aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles in the
600-kilometres class).
Alongside the SAMP/T, EUROSAM is developing a family of naval
systems to fulfil the missions required to counter a new generation
of threats:
--The SAAM (Surface-Air-Anti-Missile) naval self-protection
system for equipped vessels is qualified in its French configuration
and has entered service with the aircraft carrier “Charles de
Gaulle”. This configuration could also be fitted to the new French
modular frigates.
--The Italian configuration of SAAM is now in its qualification
phase. The first vessel to carry the system will be the Nuova
Unita Maggiore aircraft carrier “Andrea Doria”, with the possibility
that it may also be carried by the Italian navy’s New Generation
frigates.
--PAAMS (the Principal Anti-Air Missile System) fitted to
Horizon frigates has the same capability and will also be used
to provide area defence. This system will benefit from the validation
of the SAAM systems and should complete its qualification phase
in 2004/2005.
The land-based system also uses components common to other
FSAF family systems:
--The Thales Arabel multifunction radar system is fitted
to the aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle”.
--The Aster 30 version of MBDA’s Aster missile (which uses
the same terminal missile stage as the Aster 15 version).
--Those elements of the Control System common to all naval
systems (hardware and software).
--Those elements of the vertical launch system common to
all naval systems (hardware and software).
EUROSAM was set up by the companies now known as MBDA Missile
Systems and Thales to project-manage and market the FSAF family.
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