The Australian Army has successfully conducted a live-fire trial to certify the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile for use with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS).
The test, held at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia from May 24 to 31, 2025, marked a key milestone in Australia’s efforts to expand its integrated air and missile defense network.
The Army confirmed that the trial was aimed at validating the Sidewinder’s compatibility with the NASAMS platform under operational conditions.
In a statement, the Australian Defence Force said the NASAMS system “delivers an enhanced force protection system” as part of the country’s broader strategy to counter growing threats posed by long-range and high-speed missile systems.
The integration of the AIM-9 Sidewinder, traditionally used as an air-to-air missile, into a ground-based launch platform underscores Australia’s push to adapt proven weapon systems to meet evolving regional security requirements. During the trial, the NASAMS High Mobility Launcher was deployed from the locally manufactured Hawkei vehicle, a 4×4 protected mobility platform designed for rapid deployment and high survivability.
The trial supports objectives outlined in the National Defence Strategy and the Integrated Investment Program, which direct the Department of Defence to invest in new air and missile defense capabilities to protect key infrastructure, personnel, and operational assets.
The Royal Australian Air Force currently fields the AIM-9 Sidewinder on fast jets, but its certification for ground-launch applications is part of a growing trend among allied nations adapting legacy air weapons for integrated air defense systems. Norway and the United States, original developers of NASAMS, have previously demonstrated the system’s flexibility with various missile types, including AMRAAM and AIM-9 variants.
The Australian Army’s adoption of NASAMS reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s layered air defense posture. Defence says the system will provide short-range ground-based air defense to cover key military facilities, command posts, and critical logistics nodes across the Australian continent.
The NASAMS configuration used in the recent trial reportedly included elements tailored to the Army’s operational environment, including mobility enhancements and software integration for Australian command-and-control systems.
Officials have not disclosed the number of missiles fired or the precise outcomes of each test engagement, but Defence described the overall trial as a success and a step forward in operational readiness.
The certification of the AIM-9 with NASAMS adds another layer to Australia’s growing missile defense architecture, which is being developed in response to the accelerating proliferation of advanced missile technologies in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to Defence, future work will focus on increasing the mobility and survivability of air defense systems while ensuring interoperability with allied forces and other branches of the Australian Defence Force.
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