Recent photos released by the Australian Ministry of Defence at the end of May 2025 confirm that the Australian Army has successfully conducted a live-fire test of the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile launched from a NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) High Mobility Launcher integrated onto a Hawkei 4×4 armored vehicle. This milestone marks a significant advancement in Australia’s efforts to strengthen its short-range air defense capabilities, introducing a highly mobile and versatile missile platform designed to counter a wide range of aerial threats.
The Hawkei vehicle, produced by Thales Australia, weighs approximately 7 tons and is a lightweight yet protected 4×4 vehicle optimized for rapid deployment and high survivability in high-threat environments. It offers scalable protection against ballistic threats, mines, and improvised explosive devices, while delivering excellent off-road mobility and air transportability via C-130 Hercules or CH-47 Chinook aircraft. By integrating the NASAMS High Mobility Launcher onto the rear of the Hawkei, the vehicle transforms into a powerful short-range air defense asset capable of deploying up to six surface-to-air missiles with fast reaction times and high operational flexibility.
The AIM-9 Sidewinder missile used in the recent test is a combat-proven, infrared-guided missile originally designed for air-to-air combat. Adapted for surface launch via NASAMS, it provides the Australian Army with an important infrared homing interceptor that complements the radar-guided AIM-120 AMRAAM already certified in the system. The AIM-9X variant, in particular, features a high-resolution imaging infrared seeker, thrust vectoring controls for exceptional agility, and data link capabilities enabling mid-course updates. Depending on launch conditions, the missile has an operational range of up to 35 kilometers and is especially effective against stealthy, low radar cross-section aerial targets that may evade radar detection.
The combination of the Hawkei, NASAMS launcher, and AIM-9 missiles offers multiple operational advantages. The launcher’s mobility allows rapid repositioning, supporting shoot-and-scoot tactics to reduce vulnerability to counter-fire. It also operates as part of a distributed, networked air defense system, ensuring integration with sensors and command-and-control nodes across the battlespace. This layered defense architecture enables precise, multi-angle interceptions against cruise missiles, manned aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems in contested and complex environments.
This technological development aligns with Australia’s National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program, which prioritize enhancing missile defense capabilities to protect military infrastructure and personnel from evolving airborne threats. The mobile NASAMS system will be operated by the 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, currently based in Woodside, South Australia, with plans to relocate to the Edinburgh Defence Precinct by late 2025. This move will consolidate operations at a modern facility optimized for advanced air defense training and deployment readiness.
By successfully testing the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile in a ground-launched configuration from the Hawkei 4×4 armored vehicle, Australia has demonstrated a sophisticated and scalable solution for modern short-range air defense. This new capability reinforces the Australian Army’s commitment to building a flexible and responsive air defense force capable of operating in the rapidly evolving security environment of the Indo-Pacific region. It also highlights the growing importance of integrating legacy missile systems into new platforms to enhance protection, operational tempo, and strategic deterrence.
