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The Principal Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS) is a joint French/Italian/British program for a naval anti-aircraft weapon. The prime contractor is 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.

The PAAMS was intended to be deployed in the Horizon CNGF (Common New Generation Frigate) for the navies of the partner nations. The French DGA placed a contract with EUROPAAMS on 11 August 1999 for the development and initial production of the PAAMS and the associated Long Range Radar (LRR) system, including one PAAMS and one LRR for each of the first British, French and Italian Horizon frigates.

Irreconcilable differences in the design requirements lead to the UK leaving the Horizon project in October 1999. However, although now pursuing a national warship design (designated the 'Type 45 Destroyer'), the UK remained committed to the PAAMS project. In 2003 the UK ordered five more sets of PAAMS and LRR systems to allow the construction of the first six Type 45 Destroyers to progress.

Two additional sets of PAAMS and LRR systems were also ordered by France and Italy in 2003 for their Horizon class frigate.

As a result of efforts to achieve benefits of scale, the PAAMS command system shares a common architecture with that of the Type 45 destroyer. Consequently, the PAAMS uses the same Windows 2000 based command consoles as the Type 45. This extends the use of Windows for Warships outside the Royal Navy to the French and Italian navies as well.

The PAAMS is designed to allow equipped vessels to protect themselves and escorted vessels against all missile and aircraft threats. The PAAMS will also be capable of operating close inshore to provide air defence for ground forces, e.g. amphibious landings.

The PAAMS will provide a step change in capability over current systems, e.g the Type 42's Sea Dart system which is vulnerable to low level and saturation attacks. The PAAMS Aster missiles were designed from the outset to intercept sea-skimming missiles. Utilising the SYLVER launcher, the PAAMS can launch 8 missiles in 10 seconds.

• PAAMS (S) — British variant with SAMPSON Multi-Function Radar (MFR)
• PAAMS (E) — French/Italian variant with EMPAR Multi-Function Radar
• Automatic Command and control system
• Consoles running Windows 2000 operating system
• DCN SYLVER vertical missile launcher
• MBDA Aster missiles
  • Aster 15 - Short range
  • Aster 30 - Medium to long range

Both variants of the PAAMS operate in conjunction with the BAE Systems Insyte/Thales S1850M Long Range/Early Warning Radar.

• Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer
• Horizon class anti-air warfare frigates

• Aegis combat system

• Navy Matters on PAAMS
• UK's Parliamentary Defence Select Committee: Session 2001/02 Update on weapons programmes.
• UK's Parliamentary Defence Select Committee: Session 2002/03 Update on Type 45, PAAMS, and other surface ships.