Australia successfully certifies AIM‑9 Sidewinder launch from Hawkei NASAMS vehicle
In a groundbreaking move, the Australian Army has become the first in the world to fire an AIM‑9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile from a NASAMS High-Mobility Launcher mounted on a Hawkei 4×4 armoured vehicle, marking a major step forward in ground-based air defence capability.
The live-fire exercise, conducted in May at the Woomera Test Range, was performed by the 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, following 18 months of intensive training. A launcher from the regiment’s 111 Battery, modified onto a protected Hawkei mobility vehicle, successfully fired the infrared-guided Sidewinder at a designated target, executing what is known in tactical terms as “ripple fire” alongside a radar-guided AIM‑120 AMRAAM.
This milestone builds on a previous achievement from 2023 when the same unit tested an AMRAAM in a live NASAMS launch. The introduction of the Sidewinder capability significantly enhances defence against low-flying and agile targets that might evade radar-guided interceptors.
The NASAMS system, developed by Kongsberg and Raytheon, integrates sensors, fire-distribution centres, and both canister and high-mobility launchers to support a layered defence architecture.. The Australian Army’s Hawkei launcher can carry up to six missiles and enables rapid repositioning and flexible mission response..
Boosting Australia’s air defence posture in the Indo-Pacific, this capability aligns with the country’s National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program, which emphasize advanced missile defences to protect critical infrastructure and personnel.
Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Tula Recinos from 111 Battery said the innovation has elevated the regiment’s capabilities, prompting attention from other Army units keen to incorporate the technology. Bombardier Luke Dunbar, the unit’s HML detachment commander, noted that “there were smiles from ear to ear” when the first Sidewinder was launched.
Australia now stands among only three nations using Sidewinders within NASAMS architectures—but uniquely holds the distinction of employing them from a high-mobility launcher, enhancing ground-based air defence flexibility.
This achievement represents a strategic leap for the 16th Regiment, soon to be based at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct, as it continues to bolster Australia’s integrated defence posture in response to evolving regional threats.
