PRESS RELEASE
17 December, 2002
SAAM/IT Naval Self-defense System Passes Qualification Firing
Test
This comes as a further success in the Franco-Italian FSAF anti-missile
system program, and marks the second success of the year for the
SAAM/IT system.
The qualification firing test was performed at the CEM (Centre
d’Essais de la Méditerranée ) in Toulon on 17 December, 2002.
It marks the end of the qualification firing run that was carried
out with the SAAM naval system in its SAAM/IT configuration, as
developed for the Italian Navy.
The missile was launched from the Italian experimentation ship
"Carabiniere". As planned for this firing operation, the missile
intercepted a C22 target flying in patrol with another C22. The
two UAVs simulated subsonic aircraft and were fitted with self-protection
jammers.
The various detection, discrimination, missile launch, engagement
control and final phases in the target interception process were
all carried out successfully.
The ASTER 15 missile, which was self-guided in the homing phase,
intercepted the target at a distance of about 10 km from its launch
point.
The first SAAM/IT "production" system will be installed on aircraft
carrier Nuova Unita Maggiore (NUM) "Andrea DORIA" of the Italian
Navy.
The system is an anti-missile system designed to ensure the
self-defense and protection of neighboring vessels. It includes
a fire control function fitted with the multifunction EMPAR radar
and its C_ capability, as well as vertical launch SYLVER modules,
and is associated with the ASTER 15 missile.
All these steps are also important for the PAAMS program that
was started in August 1999, for the Franco-Italian HORIZON frigate
and for British destroyer T45. The PAAMS system, which is the
principal air defense system of these naval units, uses elements
in common with the SAAM/IT system and extends self-defense missions
to medium range, zone and air defense missions, through the combination
of ASTER 15 missiles and ASTER 30 missiles.
This is also an important step in terms of the future multi-mission
frigate program that France and Italy have decided to develop
in cooperation.