Eurosam
Encyclopedia
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
, Alenia and Thomson-CSF
. Now Aérospatiale is a part of MBDA
(more precisely of the French branch of MBDA), and Missile and Missile Systems activities of Alenia are now the Italian branch of MBDA
. Thomson CSF is now the Thales Group
. Thus Eurosam is owned by MBDA
France and Italy (66%) and Thales Group
(33%).
As originally envisaged under the contract for Phase 1 (signed in May 1990) the FSAF involved the use of the Aster 15
and Aster 30
missiles in the following applications:
In March 1998 Saudi Arabia
signed a contract for the SAAM system (Aster 15) to be fitted to its DCN
Al Riyadh class
frigates
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
(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 Finnmeccanica
PAAMS is to be deployed on the 4 French/Italian Horizon frigates and 6 British Type 45 destroyer
s.
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
Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
, Alenia and Thomson-CSF
Thomson-CSF
Thomson-CSF was a major electronics and defence contractor. In December 2000 it was renamed Thales Group.-History:In 1879 Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston formed the Thomson-Houston Electric Company in the United States....
. Now Aérospatiale is a part of MBDA
MBDA
MBDA is a missile developer and manufacturer with operations in France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. It was formed by a merger of Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles , Finmeccanica and Matra BAe Dynamics in December 2001. In 2003 the company had 10,000 employees...
(more precisely of the French branch of MBDA), and Missile and Missile Systems activities of Alenia are now the Italian branch of MBDA
MBDA
MBDA is a missile developer and manufacturer with operations in France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. It was formed by a merger of Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles , Finmeccanica and Matra BAe Dynamics in December 2001. In 2003 the company had 10,000 employees...
. Thomson CSF is now the Thales Group
Thales Group
The Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
. Thus Eurosam is owned by MBDA
MBDA
MBDA is a missile developer and manufacturer with operations in France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. It was formed by a merger of Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles , Finmeccanica and Matra BAe Dynamics in December 2001. In 2003 the company had 10,000 employees...
France and Italy (66%) and Thales Group
Thales Group
The Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
(33%).
As originally envisaged under the contract for Phase 1 (signed in May 1990) the FSAF involved the use of the Aster 15
MBDA Aster
Aster is a family of surface-to-air missiles manufactured by Eurosam, a European consortium consisting of MBDA France, MBDA Italy and the Thales Group .-Overview:The Aster family was developed to perform three distinct missions:...
and Aster 30
MBDA Aster
Aster is a family of surface-to-air missiles manufactured by Eurosam, a European consortium consisting of MBDA France, MBDA Italy and the Thales Group .-Overview:The Aster family was developed to perform three distinct missions:...
missiles in the following applications:
- SAAM (Système Anti-Air Missile) naval autodefence
- SAAM-FR — using the Aster 15 on Charles de GaulleCharles de Gaulle (R 91)Charles de Gaulle is the flagship of the French Navy and the largest Western European aircraft carrier. She is the tenth French aircraft carrier, the first French nuclear-powered surface vessel, and the first and so far only nuclear-powered carrier completed outside of the United States Navy...
aircraft carrier - SAAM-IT — using the Aster 15 on the Cavour
- SAAM-FR — using the Aster 15 on Charles de Gaulle
- SAMP/T (Sol-Air Moyenne Portée Terrestre) or Ground-to-Air Medium Range Missile System
- Using Aster 30 missiles in batteries and Arabel radar
In March 1998 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
signed a contract for the SAAM system (Aster 15) to be fitted to its DCN
DCN
DCNS is a naval defence company based in France and is one of Europe's leading shipbuilders....
Al Riyadh class
La Fayette class frigate
The La Fayette class units are light multi-mission frigates built by DCN and operated by French Marine Nationale...
frigates
In August 1999 FSAF was extended to include PAAMS
PAAMS
The Principal Anti Air Missile System is a joint French/Italian/British programme for a naval anti-aircraft weapon. The prime contractor is EUROPAAMS, a joint venture between Eurosam and MBDA subsidiary UKAMS . MBDA also owns 66% of Eurosam, in effect giving it a 77% share of the project...
, 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
UKAMS Ltd. is the UK partner of the EUROPAAMS consortium, the developer of the Principal Anti Air Missile System , a naval air defence weapon system.UKAMS was originally a consortium of Siemens Plessey Systems, GEC-Marconi and BAeSEMA...
(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 Finnmeccanica
PAAMS is to be deployed on the 4 French/Italian Horizon frigates and 6 British Type 45 destroyer
Type 45 destroyer
The United Kingdom's Type 45 destroyer is an air defence destroyer programme of the Royal Navy which will replace its Type 42 destroyers. The first ship in the class, HMS Daring, was launched on 1 February 2006 and commissioned on 23 July 2009. The ships are now built by BAE Systems Surface Ships...
s.