Free Republic

A European Premiere: Interception of A Supersonic Sea-Skimming Missile On April 4, 2012, the French navy air-defence frigate Forbin successfully intercepted a supersonic aerial target simulating an incoming supersonic sea-skimming anti-ship missile with its PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System). The test was carried out under the joint supervision of the navy and the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA). This highly complex engagement – a European first -- demonstrates the ability of the PAAMS anti-aircraft system to protect a carrier battle group against a particularly dangerous threat. The PAAMS, developed under a tripartite cooperation program by France, Italy and the UK,...

Duff French missiles for Royal Navy finally fixed New £1bn destroyers get post-1940s weaponry at last By Lewis Page Problems with the primary armament of the Royal Navy's new, £1bn+ Type 45 destroyers have been rectified, according to reports. The Royal Navy already has two Type 45s, HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless, but test-firings last year of their main armament - the Principal Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS, the British configuration of which is known as "Sea Viper") - were failures, meaning that the weapons could not be accepted into service. This left the Type 45s - one of which...