Hi,
Thanks! I get the impression that SYLVER/SAMPSON with ASTER-30 and ASTER-15 are designed for extremely long range and high altitude anti air defence.
As TimothyC point out, PAAMS is intended for extended point defence. Specifically, the SAMPSON / ASTER combination is an outgrowth of something called the "Area Defence Support Missile" which provides local area defence (i.e. the ship fitted and other vessels within #km) against attack from multiple supersonic sea-skimming cruise missiles (SS-N-27 et al). This scenario - particularly the defence of relatively remote vessels against high speed threats - is a major driver in the kinematics of the missile. ESSM has things a bit easier as the USN has point defences sprouting all over the place so escorted ships will be better placed to deal with "leakers".
Aster isn't really intended to yomp out multiple tens of km to "reach out and touch" someone, but it's better in that respect than Sea Dart.
I've just been wondering how much of the stuff pictured on the mast is essential to the functioning of the SAMPSON
"Some". One would expect the space directly under the such a large radar to have turning gear etc, and public data has 6 cabinets needed somewhere close to the radar. Note that a rotating array like this is intended to sit on top of a notional stick more than # and less than #m above the waterline, more than #m from a conductive surface and so on. It couldn't be slapped on a flat-topped structure without some alteration in performance, for instance (this can be an issue with nav radars that are incorrectly installed on bridge roofs).
RP1