Australian Army test-fires NASAMS

The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System – pictured above firing an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile at Woomera Test Range in South Australia in mid-November – provides air defence against a variety of aerial threats, including UAV, missile, helicopter, and aircraft attacks within 40–50 km. (Commonwealth of Australia)

The Australian Army has test-fired the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) at Woomera Test Range in South Australia, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) said in a press release in mid-November.

According to the DoD, NASAMS test-fire exercise was carried out by the 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, as part of the modernisation of the army's land-based Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD).

During the exercise, the service fired the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) from NASAMS to target unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying at an altitude of 5,000 ft, about 15 km away, the DoD said.

NASAMS – which will replace the Australian Army's RBS-70 manportable air defence systems – will be operated by the 16th Regiment at Woodside in Victoria until late 2025, according to the DoD.

In late 2025 the 16th Regiment will relocate to Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) BaseEdinburgh to become a part of the Adelaide-based 10th Brigade as a part of the Australian Defence Force's (ADF's) new order of battle, the DoD added. “The [NASAMS] project will also deliver 16th Regiment new facilities at Edinburgh Defence Precinct.”

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