Eurosam

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Eurosam GIE 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 Aerospatiale, Alenia and Thomson-CSF. Now Aerospatiale 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 (66%) and Thales (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:

• SAAM (Système Anti-Air Missile) naval autodefence
  • SAAM-FR — using the Aster 15 on FS Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier
  • SAAM-IT — using the Aster 15 on the future Italian aircraft carrier
• 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 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. PAAMS is to be deployed on the 4 French/Italan Horizon frigates and 6 British Type 45 destroyers.