AUSTRALIA TO INVEST $1.5 BILLION IN SHORT-RANGE GROUND-BASED AD SYSTEM

The Australian Government will invest up to A$2 billion ($1.5bn) to develop a new shortrange ground-based air defence system for the country’s army. The ground-based air defence capability will be developed using Kongsberg’s national advanced surface-toair missile system (NASAMS), which has ability to integrate with networks and a variety of sensors and weapons. The NASAMSbased capability will be delivered to the Australian Army through a single supplier limited tender process to Raytheon Australia, which will serve as the prime system integrator for the programme. A single supplier limited request for tender will be issued to Raytheon Australia later in the year. Kongsberg will be a major sub-contractor in the air defence system programme.

Raytheon will also investigate using Thales Australia’s ‘Hawkei’, a protected mobility vehicle, as a potential platform for the system’s missile launchers.