Royal Navy's PAAMS First Test Firing Completed Successfully

Released on Wednesday, June 04, 2008

The Royal Navy's new advanced naval air defence system, PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System), was successfully test fired for the first time on 4th June from the trials barge Longbow at the French DGA's CELM (Centre d'Essais de Lancement des Missiles ) test range near the Ile du Levant off the French coast.

The successful firing marks a key step in the demonstration of the maturity of the PAAMS(S) system in the lead up to the missile system entering service onboard the Royal Navy's new Type 45 destroyers. The trial comprised the firing of a single Aster 30 missile launched against a Mirach target simulating an aircraft, flying at 10km altitude. All aspects of the system behaved as expected with the Aster missile achieving a direct hit on the target at 35km range.

PAAMS is the self, local and fleet area defence system family that will equip the Royal Navy's new Daring class of Type 45 destroyers as well as the Horizon and Orizzonte frigates of the French and Italian Navies respectively. The Royal Navy's PAAMS (S) system differs from the PAAMS (E) selected by France and Italy with respect to the Multi Function Radar (MFR). Whereas France and Italy opted for the EMPAR MFR, the very specific requirements of the Royal Navy have resulted in the development of the SAMPSON MFR by BAE Systems INSYTE.

Nick Neale, PAAMS Project Director in the Aster Systems Programme directorate, said: �This successful firing is a huge achievement for the multinational team working on the programme. We now look forward with confidence to completing the remainder of the system qualification programme and to the service entry of the system on board the RN's new Type 45 destroyers".

Antoine Bouvier, MBDA's CEO, said: "This is an important milestone for the Aster missile system family and PAAMS. The system, when it enters service, represents a quantum technological leap in capability terms and in the provision of world class naval air defence systems".

All the PAAMS (S) system elements have been set to work on the first of class Type 45, HMS Daring and system integration is now in progress. Deliveries of PAAMS equipment to the second Type 45, HMS Dauntless, are complete. The next PAAMS(S) firing trial is planned in the second half of the year with the final system firing trial to take place in 2009.