Raytheon Australia recently flight-trialed Australia’s future short-range air defense system.
Raytheon tested the Short Range Ground Based Air Defence (SRGBAD) system at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia, confirming its accuracy and capability.
The test validated the system’s detection, tracking, engagement, and guiding missiles against their targets, the company stated.
“By collaborating and engaging with our industry partners, we are delivering a program that not only meets the customer’s needs but also reinforces Raytheon Australia’s role as the capability partner for Defence,” Raytheon Australia senior program manager Paul Szoboszlay said.
Short Range Ground Based Air Defence
The SRGBAD is the Australian Army’s contribution to the Australian Defence Force’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence Program.
The 2-billion Australian dollar ($1.34 billion) system is expected to provide the innermost layer of Australia’s integrated air and missile defense capability.
Based on NASAMS
The short-range variant of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS), the SRGBAD will replace Australia’s three-decade-old RBS-70. This very short-range man-portable air defense system is due to retire early next decade.
The NASAMS uses AIM-9X and AMRAAM missiles as effectors with a range of 22 miles (34 kilometers) and 100 miles (161 kilometers), respectively.
In comparison, the RBS-70 can engage a target at a maximum distance of 5 miles (9 kilometers).
“A modern and integrated ground-based air defense system is needed to protect our deployed forces from increasingly sophisticated air threats, both globally and within our region,” former Minister for Defence Marise Payne said while announcing the project in 2017.
