Raytheon to develop NASAMS for Australia in Adelaide
Raytheon will build its first Australian production facility in Adelaide to enable the system delivery and final assembly of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System.
NASAMS AMRAAM missile being launched from a High Mobility Launcher mounted on an FMTV. Picture: Courtesy Raytheon Australia.
The new Raytheon Australia Centre for Joint Integration will be built in the defence industry precinct of Mawson Lakes in Adelaide with a $A50 million investment from Raytheon and support from the South Australian Government.
Australia will become the 10thcountry to use the short-to-medium range air defence system, which has been integrated into the US National Capital Region’s air defence system since 2005 and has also been adopted by Norway, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, Oman, Lithuania and Indonesia.
NASAMS is comprised of the Raytheon Sentinel radar, the KONGSBERG Fire Distribution Centre, and the Raytheon Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile.
It will replace the Australian Army’s ageing RBS-70 man-portable air defence system.
The Australian designed and built Thales Hawkei will be used as the NASAMS launch vehicle. NASAMS will also use advanced radars designed and manufactured by Australian-based CEA Technologies.
The Thales Hawkei will be used as a launch system for Australia’s NASAMS. Picture: Thales Group.
“NASAMS and Raytheon’s unique EO/IR passive sensor gives Australia one of the most advanced short range ground based defence systems in the world,” Managing Director of Raytheon Australia Michael Ward said.
Mawson Lakes, in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, is one of Australia’s premier defence tech precincts and is also home to BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and Saab Australia.
Adelaide is also home the Air Warfare Destroyer project and the Future Submarines project, which promises to deliver 12 Attack Class submarines to the Australian Navy to replace its Collins Class fleet.
The new Raytheon Australia Centre for Joint Integration in Mawson Lakes is 20km east of the AWD Techport in Osborne and 15km south of the Edinburgh RAAF base where Raytheon already has a presence.
The South Australian capital is also home to the recently formed Australian Space Agency and has become a breeding ground for space and defence SMEs.
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said the NASAMS project would create hi-tech jobs and supply chain and export opportunities for the state’s defence industry.
“This significant facility strengthens South Australia’s position as a key strategic hub for Raytheon Australia, one of the largest defence companies in the Australian market,” he said.
“It will accelerate growth in the defence sector and supports future Raytheon programs across maritime, aerospace, cyber and systems integration.”
