Australia Conducts First Live-fire of NASAMS Air Defense System

The Australian Army executed the inaugural live-fire test 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 defense capabilities.

“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,” Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart said the event.

The new capability comprises an integrated system between a Kongsberg launch platform, a Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM missile and a radar from CEA Technologies.

It will replace current legacy RBS-70 man-portable air-defence systems.

NASAMS will 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.

NASAMS will be operated by 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, based in Woodside, South Australia. The project will also deliver 16th Regiment new facilities at Edinburgh Defence Precinct, with relocation scheduled for late 2025.