OCCAR notifies new N-ISS contract with Eurosam

The governments of France, Italy and the UK have signed a new in-service support (N-ISS) contract with Eurosam, a Franco-Italian consortium jointly owned by MBDA and Thales.

The latest five-year deal was notified by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) and replaces the first ISS contract, which originally came into effect in July 2012.

It also represents the first initiative in a major multinational armament programme.

The scope of the contract includes in-service support for French and Italian land and naval systems, including SAAM-Fr, SAAM-It, PAAMS and SAMP/T.

It also covers Aster missiles such as Aster 15, Aster 30 and Aster 30 B1 from France, Italy and the UK.

Eurosam managing director Abdoulaye Samba said: “Over the past years, Eurosam systems, whether SAAM, PAAMS or SAMP/T, have protected our home nations forces all over the world, contributing to their freedom of action and our nations influence.

Samba added: “I take the renewing of our in service support contract as a strong show of confidence from our home customers in the benefits of working in co-operation together with OCCAR and Eurosam.

“This is of special significance at a time when 25 European nations have decided to join forces for improving their military capabilities and strategic autonomy into the permanent structured co-operation.”

The N-ISS contract is focused on the introduction of repair packages and simplified management operations, along with cost-efficient, long-term and customised lifecycle continuity support.