|
An operational firing of MBDA’s SAAM (Surface to Air Anti-Missile) naval point and local self-defence system was successfully carried out from the Royal Saudi Naval Force’s (RSFN) HMS Al Riyadh frigate on 7th September.
The firing, conducted by Saudi operators at the Mediterranean Test Centre - the Centre d’Essais de la Méditerranée (located in Hyères, near Toulon on the south coast of France) - marks the conclusion of Al Riyadh crew training. All test objectives were met with the target being acquired, tracked and then destroyed by direct impact following deployment of the SAAM system’s ASTER 15 missile.
This latest firing follows on from the earlier 23rd March 2004 test firing of SAAM from the HMS Al Damman, one of three Al Riyadh (F3000S Sawari II) class, multi-purpose frigates. It is the ninth consecutive, successful firing since June 2001, confirming the overall effectiveness of the SAAM system.
Commenting on the firing results, Marwan Lahoud, MBDA’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This latest success is of course wonderful news for the RSFN customer and is further proof of the SAAM system’s pre-eminence in the area of naval air defence. It also has implications for the wider ASTER missile-based FSAF programme which positions MBDA as a clear technology leader in the field of air defence systems for both naval and ground forces.”
The Al Riyadh employed a complete SAAM system to carry out the firing. Target acquisition and tracking was carried out by the system’s ARABEL MFR (Multi-Function Radar), the centralised fire control system which also controlled the engagement, and an ASTER 15 missile was launched from the SYLVER vertical launch module.
ASTER 15’s active RF seeker and inertial mid-course guidance provides the SAAM system with significant advantages over comparable systems in terms of target handling. With its unique combination of aerodynamic and thrust vector control, the ASTER 15 missile has unrivalled agility and manoeuvrability to offer the optimum defence against even the most agile and stealthy of targets.
|
