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The Australian Army has fired an AIM-120 missile to shoot down a simulated cruise missile threat during Exercise Talisman Sabre.
Personnel from the 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery fired the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) at Bradshaw Field Training Area during the training exercise.
The surface-to-air missile system was deployed to hit the simulated cruise missile threat several kilometres away and thousands of feet in the sky. This was the third successful live-fire for the air defence regiment, after the AIM-9 Sidewinder was tested from the high-mobility launcher at Woomera Test Range earlier this year.
111 Battery Air and Missile Defence Operator Gunner Seth Allen said the thrill of a live-fire wasn’t lost on the regiment’s soldiers.
“Honestly, it’s an honour being that close,” Gunner Allen said.
NASAMS forms part of the inner tier of Defence’s integrated air and missile defence: a network of ships, fighter aircraft and surface-to-air missiles designed to protect Australia from airborne threats such as enemy missiles or aircraft.
Major Talal Moutrage, in his role as an Air Defence Artillery Fire Control Officer, is a subject matter expert within the Air Command and Control Agency, integrating defensive fires into the joint air battle.
“We provide the critical integration with joint partners to ensure the protection of friendly aircraft and control the effective delivery of land defensive fires against airborne threats,” MAJ Moutrage said.
Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, held across Australia from 13 July to 4 August, is the largest Australia–US bilaterally planned, multilaterally conducted exercise.
More than 40,000 military personnel are taking part in activities across Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, NSW and Papua New Guinea.
