PRESS RELEASE
Successful Second Qualification Firing of the SAAM/IT Self-Defence
System
(Source : Eurosam ; dated June 5, issued June 7, 2002)
Another success achieved by the Franco-Italian programme FSAF
for the development and production of a Family of surface-to-air
missile systems.
In the frame of the qualification campaign of the naval variant
of said systems, the SAAM/IT (Italian Navy configuration) has
successfully performed its second test firing.
The 5th June of 2002 the Italian Navy experimental ship (STP)
“Nave Carabiniere” has launched, at the Toulon Naval Test Center
(CEM), an ASTER 15 missile and has validated all the launching
sequence (engagement, launching and interception of the target).
The firing represented the missile intercepting a subsonic
aircraft attacking at low altitude with an evasive manoeuvre.
The configuration of the system is the same utilised during
first firing test performed on 18th December of 2001. The Fire
Control Subsystem used the EMPAR multifunction radar to detect
the target and engage it using an ASTER 15 missile fired from
the SYLVER vertical launch module.
The ASTER 15 missile self-guided in its terminal phase
intercepted the target at about 10 kilometres from its launch
point. The C22 target performed during the final game a commanded
evasive manoeuvre. The target, on this scenario, simulated a subsonic
aircraft travelling at about 100 metres above sea level.
The test results indicate that all the firing objectives
were successfully achieved.
It is highlighted that the first SAAM/IT production system
will be installed on the aircraft carrier, “Andrea Doria” of the
Italian Navy. It is also foreseen the utilisation of the same
system as part of the armament of the future frigates of the same
Navy.
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