Eurosam GIE is a European manufacturer of anti-air missiles. Eurosam was established in June 1989 for the development of the ''Famille de missiles Sol-Air Futurs'' (Future Surface-to-Air Family of missiles or FSAF). Eurosam was initially a joint venture between
Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale (), sometimes styled Aerospatiale, was a French state-owned aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société nationale industrielle aérospatiale ...
Thomson-CSF
Thomson-CSF was a French company that specialized in the development and manufacture of electronics with a heavy focus upon the aerospace and defence sectors of the market.
Thomson-CSF was formed in 1968 following the merger of Thomson-Houst ...
. Now Aérospatiale is a part of
MBDA
MBDA is a European multinational developer and manufacturer of missiles.MBDA Inc. US Division Co ...
(more precisely of the French branch of MBDA), and Missile and Missile Systems activities of Alenia are now the Italian branch of
MBDA
MBDA is a European multinational developer and manufacturer of missiles.MBDA Inc. US Division Co ...
. Thomson CSF is now the
Thales Group
Thales Group () is a French multinational company that designs, develops and manufactures electrical systems as well as devices and equipment for the aerospace, defence, transportation and security sectors. The company is headquartered in Pari ...
. Thus Eurosam is owned by
MBDA
MBDA is a European multinational developer and manufacturer of missiles.MBDA Inc. US Division Co ...
France and MBDA Italy (66% share split between both) as well as
Thales Group
Thales Group () is a French multinational company that designs, develops and manufactures electrical systems as well as devices and equipment for the aerospace, defence, transportation and security sectors. The company is headquartered in Pari ...
(33%).
Aster missiles
As originally envisaged under the contract for Phase 1 (signed in May 1990) the FSAF involved the use of the
Aster 15
The Aster 15 and Aster 30 are a Franco-Italian family of all-weather, vertical launch surface-to-air missiles.Aster 30
Aster or ASTER may refer to:
Biology
* ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants
** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English
* Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...
missiles in the following applications:
*SAAM (Système Anti-Air Missile) naval autodefence
**SAAM-FR — using the
Aster 15
The Aster 15 and Aster 30 are a Franco-Italian family of all-weather, vertical launch surface-to-air missiles.SAMP/T
The Aster 15 and Aster 30 are a Franco-Italian family of all-weather, vertical launch surface-to-air missiles.Arabel radar
Ground-launched systems
GBAD system, with dual ABT and ATBM capability, SAMP/T is a fully autonomous, self-propelled system with truck-mounted modules. Each system typically includes a fire control unit, with a multi-function radar (MRI) and an Engagement Module (ME), and launching elements, with up to 6 vertical launch platforms (MLT) using for Aster 30 missiles. SAMP/T boasts the unique capability of being able to simultaneously engage TBMs and ABTs coming from any direction.
Naval systems
On 17 November 2011 the French Navy air defence frigate ''Chevalier Paul'' successfully tested its PAAMS air defence system. It was the longest range intercept to date for the Eurosam system, with any PAAMS system, whether Italian, British or French. Meanwhile, HMS ''Defender'', the Royal Navy's fifth Type 45 destroyer, equipped with the PAAMS (UK) system christened Sea Viper, completed its initial sea trials before returning to the shipyard, in Glasgow.
Anti-air application
In August 1999 FSAF was extended to include PAAMS, the Principal Anti Air Missile System. PAAMS uses both Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles for self-defence, local area defence and long range area defence. PAAMS is managed by EUROPAAMS, a joint venture between Eurosam (66%) and MBDA subsidiary
UKAMS
UKAMS Ltd. is the UK partner of the EUROPAAMS consortium, the developer of the Principal Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS
The Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) is a joint programme developed by France, Italy, and the United Kingdom f ...
(33%). MBDA also owns 66% of Eurosam, in effect giving it a 77% share of the project. MBDA is itself owned by BAE, EADS and Finmeccanica. PAAMS is fitted in the 4 French/Italian Horizon frigates and 6 British Type 45 destroyers.
"Building block" architecture
Eurosam's air-defence systems are based on a modular architecture, with specific modules or "building blocks" which can be combined to precisely tailor each system. A basic system consists of one multi-function radar, a command and control post with Mara computers and Magics operator consoles, and a vertical launch system. Additional sub-systems can be added to optimize the basic system's capabilities for specific missions, such as naval extended area defense or anti-ballistic missile defense.
Applications
In March 1998
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the Ara ...
signed a contract for the SAAM system (Aster 15) to be fitted to its DCN''Al Riyadh''-class frigates.
In August 2011 Turkey's national air and missile competition has attracted bids from a U.S. partnership of
Raytheon
Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It is one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world by revenue and market capitali ...
and
Lockheed Martin
The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American aerospace, arms, defense, information security, and technology corporation with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It ...
Rosoboronexport
JSC Rosoboronexport (russian: AO Рособоронэкспорт, ''Rosoboroneksport'') is the sole state intermediary agency for Russia's exports/imports of defense-related and dual use products, technologies and services. The Rosoboronexport ...
, marketing the S-300; China's CPMIEC (China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corp.), offering its HQ-9; and Eurosam's SAMP/T Aster 30. Eurosam has delivered to date 14 units to Italy and France, including 2 First of Class units. France will deploy 10 SAMP/T in 5 air defence squadrons, 4 of which are currently equipped or being equipped. The Italian Army will regroup 5 SAMP/T units in one Regiment, in Mantova, with 4 already delivered. MBDA has offered to sell the Arabel radar to Poland with the Arabel radar 30. Poland's MON has announced the Wisla program's finalists: Raytheon's ‘PATRIOT with options’ offer, and EuroSAM's SAMP/T Mamba system that uses the Aster-30
On 5 January 2018,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
and
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...
signed a project definition study contract with Eurosam for a future Long Range Air and Missile Defense System (LORAMIDS). Turkey would also participate, through companies Aselsan and
Roketsan
Roketsan Roket Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S. is a major Turkish weapons manufacturer and defense contractor based in Ankara, Turkey. Incorporated in 1988 by Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee (''SSİK'') to establish the nation's industri ...
, in development work on the mid-life update (MLU) phase of the SAMP/T Aster 30, Block 1NT.