Australian Army trains on NASAMS

Australian Army soldiers from the 16th Regiment and the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery received training on the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System. The system includes the Raytheon AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel X-band 3D air-defence radar, the Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Fire Distribution Centre (FDC), and the Kongsberg Mk II canister launcher with provision for the AMRAAM and the AIM-9X interceptors. (Commonwealth of Australia)

The Australian Army has received hands-on training of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) during a trial and certification activity.

The activity was attended by the army's 16th Regiment and the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery.

According to the Australian Department of Defence (DoD), the activity was designed to test NASAMS components before the regiments take initial delivery this month, followed by qualification training, which is set to start soon after.

The DoD said the army will operate an enhanced version of the system's Norwegian design, which includes Australian radar technology, a Hawkei-based launcher, and an infrared optical sensor.

The Australian version of NASAMS is a mixture of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and Sidewinder missiles that can be loaded on a Hawkei high-mobility launcher or a MK II canister launcher, the DoD said.

The launcher or canister is deployed on an HX77 heavy truck with up to six missiles carried per platform, the DoD added.

According to the DoD, each troop will operate three canisters or high-mobility launchers. “The regiment is expected to field two batteries once full operational capability is reached by 2026.”

According to Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, the DoD selected Raytheon Australia as the sole bidder to develop a short-range ground-based air-defence (GBAD) system under Project Land 19 Phase 7B in April 2017.