English: HMS Defender using her Sea Viper air missile defence system during Exercise Formidable Shield, a multinational air defence exercise which took place at the Royal Navy Hebrides training range, in the Western Isles of Scotland.Ships from nine NATO countries took part in live-fire air and missile defence drills off the coast of Scotland in May 2019.The exercise allowed Allied ships to detect, track and defend against an array of anti-ship and ballistic missiles using NATO command and control procedures. Drills included sharing real time tactical information, conducting joint mission planning, and engagement coordination.The Royal Navy Sea Viper air missile defence system comprises the world class Sampson radar the Aster missile system.This missile, travelling at four times the speed of sound (Mach 4) hit an incoming drone target designed to simulate a projectile attack on the warship, the target flew faster and lower than any previously used.The Aster is part of the Principal Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS), a joint programme developed by France, Italy and the United Kingdom for an integrated anti-aircraft warfare system.