The Sylver (SYstème de Lancement VERtical) is a

vertical launching system A vertical launching system (VLS) is an advanced system for holding and firing missiles on mobile naval platforms, such as surface ships and submarines. Each vertical launch system consists of a number of ''cells'', which can hold one or mor ...

(VLS) designed by DCNS and introduced in 2001.

Specifications

Sylver Launching System - Types of Missiles

The basic unit of Sylver VLS is an eight-cell module fitted with two rows of 56 cm. missile cells surrounding the uptake for exhaust gas, and the specifications for different models are as follows:

The launcher comes in several variants, each distinguished by their height. A-35 and A-43 were developed for launching short range

surface-to-air missile A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft syst ...

s, the A-50 for the long-range

PAAMS The Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) is a joint programme developed by France, Italy, and the United Kingdom for an integrated anti-aircraft warfare system. The prime contractor is EUROPAAMS, a joint venture between Eurosam (66%) and U ...

air defense system, and the A-70 launcher for longer missiles such as the

SCALP The scalp is the anatomical area bordered by the human face at the front, and by the neck at the sides and back. Structure The scalp is usually described as having five layers, which can conveniently be remembered as a mnemonic: * S: The ski ...

naval land attack

cruise missile A cruise missile is a guided missile used against terrestrial or naval targets that remains in the atmosphere and flies the major portion of its flight path at approximately constant speed. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhe ...

. The numbers refer to the approximate length of the missile which can be accommodated, in decimetres, i.e. the A-43 can hold missiles which are up to long whilst the A-70 can accommodate missiles up to long. The launchers come in eight-cell modules, except A-35 available in four-cell modules, with each eight-cell module occupying of deck space. Inner size cell is long and wide, and each cell has its own exhaust vent. Crotale NG (VT1) missiles can be quad-packed in one cell. The primary application of the launcher has been the

Aster Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...

. The Sylver, together with the Aster, is the primary component of the PAAMS naval

anti-air warfare Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes Surface-to-air m ...

system. Using PAAMS, up to eight missiles can be launched in 10 seconds. The French Navy has initiated studies to convert the

SCALP EG Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French low-observable, long-range, air-launched cruise missile developed since 1994 by Matra and British Aerospace, and now manufactured by MBDA. Storm Shadow is the weapon's British appellation. In French service, it is ...

cruise missile to be capable of launch from the Sylver. This missile, the SCALP Naval, would give

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

a land attack capability in the mould of the

U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

Tomahawk A tomahawk is a type of single-handed axe used by the many Indigenous peoples and nations of North America. It traditionally resembles a hatchet with a straight shaft. In pre-colonial times the head was made of stone, bone, or antler, and Europ ...

Usage

Future users

* 2 x 8 Sylver VLS A50 will be used on

Italian Navy "Fatherland and Honour" , patron = , colors = , colors_label = , march = ( is the return of soldiers to their barrack, or sailors to their ship after a ...

''Paolo Thaon di Revel'' class, Full and Light+ versions, five ordered to November 5, 2015 for commissioning begin 2022 * 2 x 8 Sylver A50 will be used by French Navy on five ''Amiral Ronarc’h''-class frigates for MBDA Aster 15/30 missiles. * 4 x 8 Sylver A50 will be used by the

Hellenic Navy The Hellenic Navy (HN; el, Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, War Navy, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Hellenic Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy historically hails from the naval forces of vari ...

on each of the three FDI HN frigates for MBDA Aster 30 missiles. * Sylver VLS A35 will be used on

Royal Malaysian Navy The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN, ms, Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia; TLDM; Jawi: ) is the naval arm of the Malaysian Armed Forces. RMN is the main agency responsible for the country's maritime surveillance and defense operations. RMN's area of o ...

on six s * Sylver VLS A50 will be used on

Qatari Emiri Navy The Qatari Emiri Navy (Arabic: البحرية الأميري القطرية romanized: ''Al-Bahriyah Al-Amiriyah Al-Qatariyah'') (QEN), also called the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces (QENF), is the naval branch of the armed forces of the State of Qatar ...

vessels (1 x 8 on one LPD and 2 x 8 on four frigates), ordered on 16 June 2016 to Fincantieri for commissioning begin 2022

References

External links

Official DCNS website

Naval Institute Guide
re: quad-packing Crotale VT-1s. French Navy technology Ship-based missile launchers Military equipment introduced in the 2000s {{missile-stub

Specifications

Usage

Future users

See also

References

External links