thumb|250px|[[Aster (missile family)|Aster 15 Sylver launchers on the aircraft carrier ]]
The Sylver (système de lancement vertical) is a vertical launching system (VLS) built by Naval Group and introduced in 2001.
History
Development
DCNS began developing a vertical launching system in the early 1980s, following the Falklands War, which demonstrated the importance for large surface combatants of maintaining a 360° air-defense bubble against anti-ship missiles.
The Sylver family of vertical launchers was developed to meet the requirements of major European naval armament programs:
- Sylver A70 was designed for use with the FREMM frigates and the MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval) cruise missile. It was also considered for launching the Exoguard exo-atmospheric interceptor missile, developed by Astrium for ballistic missile defense. Nevertheless, test firings were conducted in December 2007, and continued in October 2008 with a Crotale NG missile.
- A larger Sylver variant is reportedly under consideration for the FMAN/FMC and Aquila programs, intended to replace the Aster missile family in the future.
The first Sylver system was delivered in 1997.
Production
Sylver launch systems are assembled by Naval Group at the Ruelle Foundry in Ruelle-sur-Touvre, where approximately 60% of each launcher is manufactured. Production requires advanced welding skills due to the high structural demands placed on the system, and components are radiographically inspected to verify their characteristics.
In response to increasing demand, Naval Group reduced production time from 36 months to 24 months after order placement starting in 2019.
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! style="text-align: left" | Variant
! style="text-align: left" | Crotale VT1
! style="text-align: left" | VL Mica
! style="text-align: left" | VL Mica NG
! style="text-align: left" | CAMM
! style="text-align: left" | CAMM-ER
! style="text-align: left" | Aster 15
! style="text-align: left" | Aster 30
! style="text-align: left" | MdCN
! style="text-align: left" | Stratus RS
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! style="text-align: left" | A35
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| –
| –
| –
| –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! style="text-align: left" | A43
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| –
| –
| –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! style="text-align: left" | A50
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 3 × / cell
| 3 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| –
| –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! style="text-align: left" | A70
| –
| –
| –
| –
| –
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
| 1 × / cell
|}
Operators
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-size: 97%;"
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | User
! rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | Ship class / ships
! rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | Ship role
! rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | Quantity of ships in service
! colspan="4"| Quantity of VLS of each type per ship
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! A-35
! A-43
! A-50
! A-70
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! colspan="8" | Current ships
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
| Kalaat Béni Abbès <br><small>(San Giorgio class)</small>
| Multipurpose amphibious ship
| style="text-align: center" | 1
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| rowspan="2" |
| <br><small>(FREMM frigate)</small>
| Frigate (multimission)
| style="text-align: center" | 1<br><small>(former French unit)</small>
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| Bergamini-class <br><small>(FREMM frigate)</small>
| Frigate (multimission)
| style="text-align: center" | 2<br><small>(former Italian units)</small>
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| rowspan="5" |
|
| 1 x Nuclear aircraft carrier
| style="text-align: center" | 1
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 4 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br><small>(FREMM frigate)</small>
| Frigate (ASW)
| style="text-align: center" | 4
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" |2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br><small>(FREMM frigate)</small>
|Frigate (ASW)
| style="text-align: center;" |2
| style="text-align: center;" |–
| style="text-align: center;" |–
| style="text-align: center;" |2 × 8
| style="text-align: center;" |2 × 8
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br><small>(FREMM frigate)</small>
| Frigate (AAW)
| style="text-align: center" | 2
| style="text-align: center" |–
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" |4 × 8
| style="text-align: center" |–
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
| Destroyer (AAW)
| style="text-align: center" | 2
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 6 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
|<br><small>(FDI class)</small>
|Frigate (multimission)
| style="text-align: center;" | 4
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | 4 × 8
| style="text-align: center;" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
|
|Frigate (multi-mission)
| style="text-align: center;" | 2
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center;" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| rowspan="5" |
| Bergamini-class <br><small>(FREMM frigate)</small>
| Frigate (multi-mission)
| style="text-align: center" | 10
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
| Light aircraft carrier
| style="text-align: center" | 1
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 4 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
|Landing helicopter dock
| style="text-align: center;" |1
| style="text-align: center;" |–
| style="text-align: center;" |–
| style="text-align: center;" |2 × 8
| style="text-align: center;" |–
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
| Destroyer (AAW)
| style="text-align: center" | 2
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 6 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
| Frigate (multi-mission)
| style="text-align: center" | 5
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| rowspan="2" |
| Al Zubarah-class
| Corvette (multi-mission)
| style="text-align: center" | 4
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| Al Fulk<br><small>(San Giorgio class)</small>
| Amphibious transport dock
| style="text-align: center" | 1
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
| <br><small>(La Fayette class derivative)</small>
| Frigate (multi-mission)
| style="text-align: center" | 6
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
| <br><small>(FREMM class)</small>
| Frigate (multi-mission)
| style="text-align: center" | 1
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
| Type 45
| Destroyer (AAW)
| style="text-align: center" | 6
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 6 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
| <br><small>(La Fayette class)</small>
| Frigate (multi-mission)
| style="text-align: center" | 3
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center" | –
| style="text-align: center" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! colspan="8" | Future ships
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| rowspan="2" |
|Amiral Ronarc’h class <br><small>(FDI class - units 1-3 will receive 2 more launchers during first refit)</small>
|Frigate
| style="text-align: center;" | 5
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | 4 × 8
| style="text-align: center;" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|PANG
|Frigate (multi-mission)
| style="text-align: center;" | 1
| style="text-align: center;" | <small>Unknown<br>quantity</small>
| style="text-align: center;" | <small>Unknown<br>quantity</small>
| style="text-align: center;" | <small>Unknown<br>quantity</small>
| style="text-align: center;" | <small>Unknown<br>quantity</small>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
|Luleå-class frigate
<small>(FDI class)</small>
|Frigate
| style="text-align: center;" |4
| style="text-align: center;" |
| style="text-align: center;" |
| style="text-align: center;" |4 × 8
| style="text-align: center;" |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| rowspan="4" |
| Bergamini-class <br><small>(FREMM-EVO frigate)</small>
|Frigate (multi-mission)
| style="text-align: center;" | 2
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center;" | 2 × 8
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|DDX class
|Destroyer
| style="text-align: center;" | 2
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | 6 × 8
| style="text-align: center;" | 4 × 8
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|<br><small>(PPA class)</small>
|Frigate (multi-mission)
| style="text-align: center;" | 2
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center;" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|MMPC class
|Corvette <br><small>(Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette)</small>
| style="text-align: center;" | 8
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | 1 × 8
| style="text-align: center;" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
|s
|Frigate / (littoral combat ship)
| style="text-align: center;" | 5
| style="text-align: center;" | 2 × 8
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
|
|Frigate
| style="text-align: center;" | 6
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
|}
See also
- GJB 5860-2006 - A vertical launching system of People's Liberation Army Navy.
- K-VLS - A vertical launching system of Republic of Korea Navy.
- Mark 41 Vertical Launching System - A vertical launching system of United States Navy.
- Poliment-Redut - A vertical launching system of Russian Navy, navalized version of S-350.
- 3S-14 - A vertical launching system of Russian Navy for cruise, anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles.
References
External links
- Official DCNS website
- Naval Institute Guide re: quad-packing Crotale VT-1s.