Aster 15 & 30 PAAMS

Principal Anti-Air Missile system

The ASTER modular family of vertically launched missiles is being developed under the leadership of MBDA within the Franco-Italian FSAF (Future Surface-to-Air Family) programme.
Under this programme, France and Italy agreed to develop and produce a family of naval platform and ground based air defence systems for the armed forces of both countries.
A subsequent trilateral agreement signed between France, Italy and the United Kingdom resulted in the development of a third naval air defence system using the Aster family of missiles known as PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System).

PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System): A 360° omni-directional system providing multi-layer air defence to armed fleets or groups of unarmed support and merchant ships.
It incorporates three separate mission capabilities in a single naval air defence system – ship self-defence for protection of the PAAMS warship; local area defence for nearby ship defence; and medium and long-range air defence.
PAAMS has been designed to provide optimum protection against omni-directional and co-ordinated attacks from sub- or supersonic missiles, aircraft and high value UAVs.

PAAMS comprises a Multi Function Radar (MFR), a sophisticated Command and Control sub-system (C2), and a dual missile Vertical Launch Sub-system (VLS) containing a combination of 48, ready-to-fire Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles (same as for SAMP/T).
PAAMS is supported by a Long Range Radar (LRR) for long-range surveillance.

Two PAAMS system variants are being developed.
The Royal Navy system  - PAAMS(S) - will use the BAE SYSTEMS SAMPSON radar while the French and Italian navies will deploy a system equipped with an EMPAR radar/fire control unit – PAAMS (E).

Depending on the threat, the combination of the Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles enables the PAAMS system to fire in any configuration from the PAAMS Sylver A50 launcher providing an impenetrable defence envelope day or night, even in cases of extreme ECM and in all weather conditions.

Programme status

The PAAMS programme was launched on 11 August 1999 with the award of a contract by the DGA in France on behalf of France, Italy and the UK.

The programme comprises full-scale engineering development, production engineering, system qualification and first of class deliveries for the three nations.
The programme will include further performance enhancements, series production and after sales support.

Three PAAMS systems were ordered in 1999 along with the required Aster 15 and Aster 30 Naval missiles to equip the first-of-class air defence vessels for each of the three countries.
The UK Royal Navy will deploy its initial PAAMS system on the first of its Daring class Type 45 destroyers. The French Navy will equip the first of its Horizon class frigates while the Italian Navy will take delivery of PAAMS for its Orizzonte class frigates.

In 2003 contracts were placed for an additional five PAAMS systems for the follow-on Type 45 destroyers for the Royal Navy and one system for a French Horizon and an Italian Orizzonte and the supply of additional Aster 15 and 30 missiles.

The development of the Aster missiles for PAAMS is complete.  
A number of successful missile level firings were carried out in 2005 including a firing scenario simulating the protection of a friendly ship being attacked by an anti-ship missile in skimming flight, executing a “dog-leg” manoeuvre (90º high-load factor turn).
A further trial was carried out in October 2005 in which the test scenario replicated exactly the kind of aerial threat that Aster PAAMS has been designed to counter – an attack on an escort ship by a salvo of two missiles at close range at an altitude of 1,000 metres.
This test validated the Aster 30 missile’s ability to discriminate between targets and confirmed that the missile’s seeker would not be confused by the presence of a second target in the vicinity.

The first system qualification firing of PAAMS (E) using the EMPAR radar took place at the French DGA’s CELM missile testing facility in May 2006.
Carried out from an Italian navy Carabiniere trials ship, the Aster 30 missile used registered a direct hit on the target.
In May 2007, the final qualification firing of PAAMS (E) was successfully completed. The firing comprised the EMPAR radar and associated fire control system, the A 50 Sylver Vertical Launcher and the Aster 30 missile.
All the system elements of PAAMS(S) have been integrated on the Longbow Sea Trials Platform currently in the Mediterranean for the PAAMS (S) firing campaign. In June 2008 the first firing was successfully carried out.
The PAAMS (S) system elements have all been delivered to HMS Daring (the Type 45 first of class) and HMS Dauntless (the second Type 45) where they are being set to work. 

ASTER missiles are now in series production.