MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (034/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 11
February 2009
The new Sea Viper
air defence missile system demonstrated its ability to protect
air, land and sea forces during a second, successful test firing.
The missile system was successfully test-fired from the 12,000
tonne trials barge Longbow, near the Ile du Levant off the French coast.
The Longbow barge has a full replica of the air defence equipment
the new Type 45 destroyers will carry, including long-range and
missile directing radars, a combat control centre and missiles in
their vertical launcher silos.
Sea Viper is a highly sophisticated system that has been designed
to allow the new Type 45 Destroyer to protect forces, both at sea
and over land, against attack by enemy aircraft, as well as
defending the fleet against anti-ship missiles approaching from
any direction and at supersonic speeds.
MOD Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Medium Range Air
Defence Weapons Team Leader, David Emly, said:
"This test was much more difficult with the target
simulating a low-level anti-ship missile at close range and so I
am very pleased with the result as it demonstrates that the Type
45 Destroyer's powerful Anti-Air Warfare capability is on
track to be delivered in 2010."
Integral to the Sea Viper system is the Sampson Multi Function
Radar which tracks targets and directs missiles towards them. This
element is a bespoke design developed by BAE Systems to meet the
Royal Navy's very specific requirements.
This latest success comes hot on the heels of the recent arrival
of the first Type 45 destroyer, HMS Daring, into her home port of
Portsmouth for the first time in January. Integrating the Sea
Viper system is the main focus of the ship's remaining trials
before she is declared ready for service.
Notes to Editors
1. Sea Viper came into being on 28 January when Vice Admiral Sir
Trevor Soar, Chief of Material Fleet, formally announced the name
selected by the Royal Navy for its Principal Anti-Air Missile
System (PAAMS).
2. Sea Viper is a Maritime area air defence system composed of
the Sampson radar, a Combat Management System, long range radar,
the Sylver missile launching system and Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles.
3. The Aster missiles are capable of speeds in excess of mach
four and are highly agile, using an innovative system called
'Pif Paf'. This combines conventional aerodynamic
control with a novel lateral thrust system. The trial comprised
the firing of a single Aster 15 missile launched against a Mirach
target simulating a low level attack from an anti-ship missile.
4. The first Type 45 Destroyer HMS Daring was handed over to the
MOD on 10 December 2008. She sailed into her home port of
Portsmouth for the first time on 28 January 2009. Final MOD
controlled sea-trials and integration activity is now underway
prior to her entering service with the Royal Navy in 2010.