On Tuesday, June 20, Raytheon Australia announced the first fire tests of the SRGBAD (Short Range Ground Based Air Defence System), based on NASAMS (National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System) architecture and intended for Australian land forces (Australian Army) under the Land 19 Phase 7B program.
As part of the tests, the performance of the SRGBAD kit for detecting, tracking, countering, and guiding missiles to their targets was evaluated. This system is designed to revolutionize Australia’s short-range air defence capabilities.
The successful completion of the trial confirms the effectiveness and capabilities of the SRGBAD system, proving that it can fulfill its primary mission: detecting, tracking, striking, and guiding missiles to their targets. This achievement stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and meticulous planning, representing a significant step forward in Australia’s military capabilities.
It should be noted that on March 25, 2019, Raytheon Australia, together with Norwegian Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA), was selected as the supplier of the SRGBAD system for the Australian Army under the Land 19 Phase 7B program, valued at AUD 2.5 billion (then PLN 6.74 billion). The components of the NASAMS system were mounted on various vehicles, including the light armored vehicles Thales Hawkei PMV-L, heavier Bushmaster PMV, and RMMVA HX2 trucks.
The SRGBAD batteries will become part of the equipment of the 16th Air Land Regiment of the Australian Army. Currently, there are approximately 30 short-range Saab RBS 70 systems with Bolide Mk 3 missiles and 18 Rapier BM1 anti-aircraft systems, 8 of which utilize Blindfire radars. The initial operational readiness of the system is expected to be announced in 2022-2023, with full readiness anticipated in 2025-2026.
