battlefields and

territories with

an adaptable

short-reaction

time system.

In 1989 French and Italian defence administrations joined forces to develop a surface-to-air family of missile systems (FSAF) and Eurosam was chosen as the prime contractor and system design authority.
FSAF provides defence against threats from fast sea-skimmers and low-level flying cruise missiles to high manoeuvring fighters and high diving missiles with simultaneous engagement of multiple targets over 360° . They can stop a sea-skimming missile at 1.5km, intercept a manoeuvring aircraft at 60 to 80km, blow-up an approaching missile to a height of 50,000 feet all at the same time.
The family comprises:
Naval SD system (SAAM): Short/medium range for self defence and air defence of vessels sailing in close formation. Firing capability is up to 48 ASTER missiles in six vertical launcher units (eight canisters); the fire-control unit is based on ARABEL (X-band) or EMPAR (C-band) multifunction phased array radars.

ARABEL features powerful and flexible radar management over a wide frequency band and wave form agility for sophisticated ECCMs.

Naval ED system: Medium/long range for self-defence, local-area defence of consort ships and wide-area defence of naval forces. Firing capability up to 64 ASTER dual-range missiles in eight vertical launcher units (eight canisters); the fire-control unit is based on EM PAR (C-band). Land system (SAMPIT): Medium range, battlefield and high-value assets protection: a highly mobile, air-transportable, quickly deployable system with a 48 ASTER missiles firing capability in six vertical launchers; the fire-control unit is based on ARABEL (X-band) and ZEBRA (Zenithal scanning UHF-band) radar. Command-and-control and identification units have a high degree of interconnection at BMS. All naval and land systems use the ASTER two-stage active seeker and missile. The main feature of FSAF systems is modularity. FSAF modules constitute building blocks of a family of complex missile systems, rather than a single-framed, anti-air missile system, allowing users to compose their own systems.

Systems can protect a battlefield or when connected within a network, a vast territory. At sea, its action may be limited to ship self- defence when equipped with minimum modules or extended to cover the entire zone of operation of a naval task force. A major feature is the system's extremely short reaction time, even in an electronically jammed, very dense threat environment.
The missile has several variants, achieved without changing the logic of the entire system by adopting a two-stage missile. The second stage remains unchanged and the first stage's size and combustion time is adjustable to cover a desired range. Independently orientated booster nozzles allow a missile to be tilted in the direction of a threat as soon as the whole ASTER is off its launch canister, permitting very close impacts. PIF-PAF control, a combination of lateral thrust at the centre of gravity and aerodynamic control of tail fins, enables extremely rapid manoeuvres, even at high altitude. The missile uses a multi-frequency active seeker for precise terminal guidance to impact.

The vertical launcher provides omnidirectional capability with the shortest reaction time. Each ground launcher contains eight ASTER missiles whose canisters act as transport containers and launch tubes. The naval launcher can accept the SD ASTER and the long-range ED ASTER. Sensors provide simultaneous surrounding ambient surveillance, target detection and tracking, plus missile uplink based on phased-array antennas. A monopulse electronically scanned and stabilised pencil beam controls defended space, providing precise omnidirectional multi-target tracking detection.
EMPAR MFR analyses environments and adapts its mode of operation to optimise performance in severe weather. Its electronic scan angles of 90° in azimuth and 120° in elevation provide EMPAR with a full volumetric search from very low altitude to the zenith. Long-range surveillance and multiple (300) targets tracking at various update rates plus up-link transmission to 30 missiles simultaneously is possible.ARABEL MFR covers 90° in azimuth and 75° in elevation. In stopped-antenna mode the efficiency of the ARABEL against tactical ballistic missiles is greatly enhanced because concentration in a 90° azimuth sector means higher renewal rate and longer detection range.

ARABEL features powerful and flexible radar management over a wide frequency band and wave form agility for sophisticated ECCMs. ZEBRA Zenithal radar works in association with the ARABEL and provides coverage in a vertical cone 40° around zenith against high diving missiles.
The Royal Navy is pursuing SAMPSON, an active array solution, associated with FSAF building blocks.
A command and control station that includes automated equipment requires only two operators. Sensor track correlation between the MFGR, IFF and other external sensors is performed in real time. Using threat evaluation and weapon assignment to select launchers and the best missile trajectory shaping, ensures rapid intercept. To meet the multiple requirements of naval and land deployment and to enable stand-alone operation or integration within a wider air-defence network, FSAF systems were developed to be flexible and highly modular.