Australia’s twist on NASAMS system transforms the nation’s ground-based air defence

The live fire was more than a success. It was a moment in history – the first time the Australian Army had fired a NASAMS system, and one of the longest-range ground-based air defence engagements ever conducted by its 16 Regiment. For Ferguson, it was the culmination of four years of commitment and hard work. Even now, he isn’t afraid to admit there were nerves.

“While it’s based on the military off-the-shelf NASAMS system, our system features a number of Australian unique enhancements, with approximately 80% of the command and control, or C2, system software written to support the Australian Army requirements,” Ferguson said.

“Although my faith in the engineering behind our Australian solution was rock solid, the complexity of the system was enormous. So, when the missile successfully launched, I was overwhelmed with relief, and pride.”

The test fire was a key milestone in the LAND 19-7B project, which aims to transform the Australian Army’s advanced Short-Range Ground Based Air Defence, or SRGBAD, capability.

The Australian version of the NASAMS system adds several unique modifications – namely a near-complete overhaul of the command-and-control software to support Army’s requirements.

As prime system integrator, Raytheon Australia collaborated with Army, the Department of Defence, and industry partners, including Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA), CEA Technologies, as well as business units within RTX.

Collaboration turned out to be one of the highlights, a key success for LAND 19, even when facing the challenges of COVID-19.

“Travel restrictions and distancing protocols posed significant logistical challenges for conducting essential integration activities in Norway and the U.S.,” Ferguson said.

“However the team showed great resilience, and we spent weeks working out of medi-hotels to do what was required to continue meeting our milestones and progressing the program.”

Another major challenge was developing the ‘kill chain’ software, a military term for the process of detecting, tracking, engaging and intercepting a threat.

“This process must be achieved in milliseconds, with stringent tolerances,” Ferguson said.

“As such, the LAND 19 kill chain software required rigorous testing, to prove it met Army’s requirements and performed as required.”

To take on a third significant challenge – certification – Raytheon Australia hosted more than 50 workshops where representatives from 14 regulatory agencies learned about the system and provided information about their thousands requirements.

“Managing the NASAMS system certification required the involvement of 14 regulatory bodies,” Ferguson said.

“We hosted more than 50 certification workshops to help regulators understand our LAND 19 solution, and to elicit their requirements so they could be incorporated into the design. Each regulator specified up to thousands of requirements that had to be met before the system could be certified.”

All certifications were achieved on schedule, and regulators were so impressed they encouraged Raytheon Australia to adopt the same process in future defence programs.

Program destined for growth

The Australian Government selected Raytheon Australia to deliver LAND 19 Phase 7B in 2019, and Ferguson was subsequently provided the opportunity to be chief engineer of the program.

According to Ferguson, it was an “unmissable chance” to deliver a transformational capability to support Australia’s defence.

At its peak, Ferguson was joined by more than 100 highly-skilled Raytheon Australia employees on the program, including engineers, technicians, project management and support personnel. More than 30 Australian small and medium enterprises also contributed to the  NASAMS system capability, and now have the potential to join the global the NASAMS system supply chain.

Developing an enhanced Australian the NASAMS system solution to support Army’s requirements required the development of more than two million lines of code and numerous capability enhancements, including:

• the new CEA phased array radar system
• a new Electro-Optic Infrared (EOIR) system
• new tactical datalinks
• the ability to fire two different effectors (AIM-120C AMRAAM  and AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder), and
• integration with Army vehicles and communications systems.

 The moment of truth

2023 was the defining year for the LAND 19 program, culminating in delivery of the first NASAMS system fire units to the Army’s 16 Regiment, and the successful live fire at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia, in front of senior Australian Defence Force and civilian Defence leaders.

“We had conducted a series of eight complex field trials with Army to test the system in its operational context, including tracking artillery rounds and drones in flight, so I was confident we had done everything possible to ensure the live fire would be a success,” Ferguson said.

“But the system was so complex that it wasn’t until the missile launched and destroyed the target that I could breathe a sigh of relief.”

Raytheon Australia Interim Managing Director Ohad Katz said LAND 19 successfully delivered a generational leap forward for the Australian Army’s air defence capability.

“By working collaboratively with Army, Defence, and our industry partners, we delivered an enhanced NASAMS system solution which the Army will be able to use to defend our nation, as well as deploy via land, sea or air transport around the world,” Katz said.

“This is a glowing affirmation of Australian expertise and capability, and I am incredibly proud knowing that our NASAMS system solution will bolster our nations’ defences for years to come.”

Reflecting on the program’s success, Ferguson focuses on the united sense of purpose from all involved.

“I was lucky to lead one of the finest teams of engineers and technicians that I have ever had the privilege of working with,” Ferguson said.

“And it was genuinely special to partner with Army to develop this transformational capability. It was rewarding to see the excitement and ownership soldiers have for the Australian NASAMS system, and how quickly they developed the skills required to use the system to greatest effect.”

Ferguson has moved on to a new role within the company as a technical director, and after 18 years at Raytheon Australia, his passion shows no signs of diminishing.

“In my new role I’m doing what I have always done – stirring up a bit of chaos to breed innovation, and help solve difficult problems.”