NASAMS fires AIM-9X Sidewinder in test
Testing carried out by Raytheon and the Royal Norwegian Air Force has confirmed the ability for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to engage and destroy targets using the AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missile.
Carried out at the Andoya Test Center in Norway, the test opens the door for NASAMS customers to add a short-range layer to their ground-based air defence capabilities.
A NASAMS fire unit comprises a Kongsbeg Fire Distribution Center, missile launchers, and Raytheon Sentinel radar and interceptors. Raytheon's AMRAAM missile is the baseline short- to medium-range interceptor for NASAMS.
The AIM-9X Sidewinder can be used for air-to-air engagements, surface-attack and surface-launch missions without modifications.
Kjetil Myhra, executive vice president of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, said: ‘The NASAMS path of evolution continues by demonstrating yet another capability from the Raytheon family of missiles in the system, giving customers a true missile mix with AMRAAM, AMRAAM-ER and AIM-9X.’
More from Land Warfare
-
US Missile Defense Agency’s budget could be cut by $2.6 billion over the next three years
The reduction would impact several acquisition and development programmes, creating capabilities gaps in US missile defence architecture.
-
Israel ramps up Arrow-4 development following Iranian attack
Israel’s Ministry of Defense has fast-tracked the development of the Arrow-4 ballistic missile interceptor in response to recent Iranian ballistic missile attacks.
-
Japan orders THeMIS UGVs
Milrem’s Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) is a modular, multimission, hybrid UGV. The current fifth-generation model incorporates knowledge gained during tests in the US, Europe and the Middle East, as well as during field-deployment in Mali in the French-led Operation Barkhane.
-
GDELS rolls out Piranha HMC
General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) MOWAG has introduced the Piranha Heavy Mission Carrier (10x10), an enhanced version of its Piranha armoured vehicle series, featuring increased payload capacity and specialised configurations for diverse battlefield roles.