With the recent successful flight-testing completed by Raytheon Australia, the Australian Army is moving closer to achieving its initial operational capability for the Short-Range Ground-Based Air Defense (SRGBAD) system.
The SRGBAD system is part of the Australian military’s LAND 19 Phase 7B program, launched in 2017. It will serve as the ground-based component of the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense (JIAMD) system, replacing the Army’s current Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) capabilities. The SRGBAD system will operate independently with ground forces, including expeditionary units, and will also integrate with the broader JIAMD system under the AIR 6500 project. The Army aims to achieve initial operating capability (IOC) for the SRGBAD system by mid-2023.
LAND 19 Phase 7B involves acquiring new radar, missile launchers, and command and control systems, which will be integrated with existing Army vehicles and communications systems. Australia has selected the Kongsberg/Raytheon-developed National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) for the program.
NASAMS utilizes modified AIM-9X and AMRAAM missiles, proven in combat, and the latest version is compatible with the IRIS-T SLR. These missiles provide effective engagement ranges of 34 km and 161 km respectively, offering short to medium-range capabilities against fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles. The SRGBAD system will utilize Canberra-based CEA Technologies’ Active Scanning Electronic Array (AESA) radars.
The radar and missile launchers are mounted on either the high-mobility version of the Thales Hawkei PMV vehicle or the MK II canister launcher deployed from a HX77 heavy truck. The MAN/Rheinmetall HX77 6 X 6 is also used for the Fire Distribution Center shelter. The Australian system incorporates the Raytheon AN/AAS-52 Multi-spectral Targeting System with high-resolution day/night imagers and an integrated laser rangefinder.
The SRGBAD program has a value of A$2.5 billion, with a significant portion of the work being sourced within Australia. The first delivery of launchers took place in 2022, and in September of that year, Kongsberg Defense Australia successfully passed factory acceptance tests for the first two Fire Distribution Centers (FDC1 and FDC2) intended for the Army. The production, rollout, and qualification of battery components, as well as operator training and fielding support, are currently ongoing.
The 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, is expected to be the first operational unit to receive the SRGBAD system, with the anticipated date set for May. The regiment’s members had the opportunity to experience NASAMS during a trial and certification process in April 2023 near Jervis Bay. The regiment will field two batteries, each consisting of three troops. Each troop will comprise an FDC, a CEATAC radar, an MTS-A Optronic Sensor vehicle, and 3-4 launchers. The 110th Battery will be the first unit equipped with NASAMS. The plan is to achieve full operational capability by 2026.
Source: With Agencies