Kongsberg Defence Australia has announced the achievement of a critical milestone for Project LAND 19 Phase 7B, successfully delivering the final Fire Distribution Centre (FDC) for the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile Systems (NASAMS). The final FDC delivery to Raytheon Australia was the last of the major end items provided by KONGSBERG under the project. As part of this project, Kongsberg Defence Australia has supported Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (KDA) and prime contractor, Raytheon Australia, to deliver the new Short-Range Ground-Based Air Defence capability to the Australian Army.
NASAMS is a state-of-the-art weapons system produced by Raytheon Technologies and KONGSBERG that is in service with, or under delivery to, 13 nations. The most recent customer for NASAMS is Ukraine where it is currently deployed. The system enables the Australian Army to quickly detect, engage, and destroy aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missile threats.
This milestone was recognised by KONGSBERG and Raytheon Australia personnel at a recent event at the Raytheon Australia Centre for Joint Integration in the company of KDA’s Mr Kjetil Myhra, Executive Vice President Defence Systems, and Mr Michael Ward, Managing Director Raytheon Australia. Other attendees included members from 16 Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Army Headquarters, and local supplier partners REDARC Defence and Space, Daronmont Technologies, Defence Coating Systems, Milspec Manufacturing and Eylex.
Kongsberg Defence Australia’s General Manager, John Fry is proud of the collaboration between KONGSBERG, Raytheon Australia, and CEA Technologies on this program, all working closely to deliver a transformational Ground Based Air Defence System to the Australian Army. “This final delivery marks the end of the NASAMS production activities for Army. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we successfully established the only NASAMS production capability outside of Norway. This was enabled through the dedicated support of KDA and the development of productive relationships with our local suppliers. Together, we have greatly contributed to the delivery of a world-class and combat proven integrated air and missile defence system for Australia. As we have seen in Ukraine, NASAMS has saved countless lives and protected critical infrastructure from endless Russian cruise missile and drone attacks. It makes us proud knowing we are delivering this capability to the Australian Army,” Fry said.
“The NASAMS configuration delivered to Army provides significant opportunity for further growth to address an even greater portion of an evolving threat spectrum. “As we now move into the sustainment phase, we look forward to continuing to support KDA, Raytheon Australia, CEA Technologies, and Army in the operation and ongoing development of this very important capability,” Fry said. “The NASAMS configuration delivered to Army provides significant opportunity for further growth to address an even greater portion of an evolving threat spectrum. “As we now move into the sustainment phase, we look forward to continuing to support KDA, Raytheon Australia, CEA Technologies, and Army in the operation and ongoing development of this very important capability.”
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Is this another missed opportunity? KDA has finished but no word from Gov on ordering any more, this contract covered 6 system’s didn’t it? Combined with deathly silence in Gov’s big plans about AIR 6502 MRGBAD system for RAAF, even when the world is said to be heading to more trouble. We are again left with big ugly obvious holes in our countries Swiss cheese defence plans. At least should have acquired more NASAMS to help cover for lost MRGBAD sam systems.
The IIP is completely distorting Australia’s force structure. During the next 10 years the RAN will receive 38% of the acquisition budget – more than Land (15%); Air (14%) and Cyber (7%) combined. People should understand that over the next decade there is no planned new capability other than the promise of nuclear-powered submarines and the somewhat greater certainty of General Purpose Frigates. Why anyone in the government – or within Defence itself – thinks this is a good idea is unknown.
To respond to your specific concern: yes, one of the big casualties is ground based air defence and the 6500 series of projects, which have been lumped together.
We should consider reviving the US SLAMRAAM experiments using HIMARS systems. We are buying the launchers anyway, and if they could be made to work with existing radars and command equipment for the NASAMS, at the very least we’re making the existing systems more robust against losses of launchers, and diversifying the jobs our HIMARS will be able to do. Let’s be honest, MLRS are not going to be as useful in a Pacific fight as they are on the European steppe in Ukraine, even with PrSM. GBAD is useful everywhere.