Army’s conducts first NASAMS live-fire

The Australian Army has conducted its first live-fire of the National Advanced Surface to Air
Missile System (NASAMS) at the Woomera test range in South Australia.

The firing by the 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, demonstrates the modernisation
of Army’s land-based integrated air and missile defence capabilities. The Short Range Ground Based Air Defence system is being acquired under Project LAND 19 Ph.7B and is very similar to NASAMS systems in service with up to a dozen other countries.

It is designed to provide protection to the ADF and its partners from current and emerging air threats including indirect weapons, uncrewed aerial vehicles, air-delivered weapons and aircraft.

The new capability consists of two batteries, each of three fire units comprising Kongsberg NASAMS Mk II launch platform, up to six Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM radar-homing missiles (or AIM-9X  IR-guided missiles) and the ground-based CEAFAR phased array radar from CEA Technologies. It will replace current legacy RBS-70 man-portable air-defence systems.

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart said the event was another step forward in
preparing Army to meet the challenges outlined in the Defence Strategic Review.

“NASAMS will enable Army to be interoperable with the wider ADF and coalition militaries to provide integrated air and missile defence,” said LTGEN Stuart. “NASAMS is currently used by more than a dozen militaries, including the United States and Ukraine, and is a mature and proven surface-to-air missile system.”

Head of Land Systems Division, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group,
Major General Andrew Bottrell, highlighted defence industry’s significant role in advancing
Army’s capabilities.

“Land Systems Division’s collaboration with Raytheon Australia, Kongsberg and CEA Technologies is testament to the knowledge, skill and commitment of all teams to deliver this highly complex capability,” Major General Bottrell said.

NASAMS will be operated by 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, which will move from its current base at Woodside, South Australia, to new facilities at Edinburgh Defence Precinct, with relocation scheduled for late 2025.