The Sylver (système de lancement vertical) is a vertical launching system (VLS) built by Naval Group and introduced in 2001.
The Sylver (système de lancement vertical) is a vertical launching system (VLS) built by Naval Group and introduced in 2001.
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:
The first Sylver system was delivered in 1997.
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.
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:
| Sylver module | Cells configuration | Cell dimensions | Module length | Module width | Module height | Max. missile length | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylver A-43 | 8 (2×4 cells) |
56 cm (22 in) × 56 cm (22 in) | 2.59 m (8 ft 6 in) | 2.27 m (7 ft 5 in) | 5.33 m (17 ft 6 in) | 4.35 m (14 ft 3 in) | 7.5 t (17,000 lb) | – |
| Sylver A-50 | 6.08 m (19 ft 11 in) | 5.05 m (16 ft 7 in) | 8.0 t (17,600 lb) | – | ||||
| Sylver A-70 | 7.60 m (24 ft 11 in) | 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in) | 12.0 t (26,500 lb) | – | ||||
| Sylver CL | 24 (3×8 cells) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
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 missiles, the A-50 for the long-range PAAMS air defense system, and the A-70 launcher for longer missiles such as the MdCN naval land attack cruise missile. 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 4.3 metres (14 ft 1 in) long whilst the A-70 can accommodate missiles up to 7 metres (23 ft 0 in) long.
The launchers come in eight-cell modules, except A-35 available in four-cell modules, with each eight-cell module occupying six square metres (65 sq ft) of deck space. Inner size cell is 60 centimetres (24 in) long and 56 cm (22 in) 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. The Sylver, together with the Aster, is the primary component of the PAAMS naval anti-air warfare system. Using PAAMS, up to eight missiles can be launched in 10 seconds.
France has developed a sea-based deep strike cruise missile capable of being launched from the Sylver. Called the MdCN, the missile gives the French Navy a land-attack capability in the mould of the U.S. Tomahawk.
A new variant of the Sylver launcher, nicknamed Sylver-CL for Cold Launch, is currently being developed by Naval Group for the CAMM family of missiles by MBDA.
The Sylver-CL launcher will have the same footprint as the other Sylver variants and will fit 8 CAMM or CAMM-ER missiles per cell.
This new launcher is being developed for the Swedish Navy's Luleå-class frigate based on the FDI design. Each ship will be fitted with 32 vls cells including 24 Sylver A50 for 24 Aster 30 and 8 Sylver-CL for 24 CAMM-ER.
| Variant | Number of cells | Crotale VT1 | VL Mica | VL Mica NG | Aster 15 | Aster 30 | MdCN | CAMM | CAMM-ER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A35 | 8 | 1 × / cell | 1 × / cell | 1 × / cell | – | – | – | – | – |
| A43 | 8 | 1 × / cell | 1 × / cell | 1 × / cell | 1 × / cell | – | – | – | – |
| A50 | 8 | – | – | – | 1 × / cell | 1 × / cell | – | – | – |
| A70 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 × / cell | – | – |
| CL | 8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 × / cell | 3 × / cell |
