Australian Army fires air-to-air missiles from NASAMS

An Australian Army Hawkei launcher fires an AIM-9 Sidewinder during a recent certification activity at the Woomera Test Range. (Commonwealth of Australia)

The Australian Army has fired air-to-air missiles (AAMs) from its ground-based National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) launcher and its Hawkei 4×4 wheeled high-mobility launcher vehicle.

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) said on 1 July that the army fired from the land systems Raytheon's Air Intercept Missile (AIM)-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 Advanced Medium‐Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) during a live-fire certification activity at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia in May.

During the certification activity, Hawkei launcher vehicles were modified to carry up to six AIM-9 Sidewinders or AIM-120 AMRAAMs, the DoD said. It added that missiles from the NASAMS canisters and Hawkei launcher vehicles were fired at the same target to conduct “ripple fire” engagement.

The live-fire activity follows an 18-month training period conducted for soldiers of the 16th Regiment, which will operate the capability, the DoD added. It added, “Following the successful live-fire, 16th Regiment can mix and match AMRAAM and Sidewinder missiles in canister or high-mobility launchers to give ground-based air defenders more options.”

The Australian Army conducted an initial trial of NASAMS AAMlaunches in November 2023. At the time, the DoD said the 16th Regiment will receive new facilities as a part of the NASAMS project but did not elaborate.

According to Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, NASAMS is a networked medium-range air-defence system developed and built as a part of a co-operative venture between Kongsberg and Raytheon.

Australia's NASAMS consists of the Raytheon AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel X-band 3D air-defence radarand Kongsberg's Fire Distribution Center (FDC) and Mk II canister launcher, which can fire AMRAAM and Sidewinder missiles.