Australia tests SM-2/Aegis ground-based air-defence capability

A Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) is fired from a Derringer trailer-mounted Expeditionary Launch System during ‘Taipan Strike 26' at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia. (Commonwealth of Australia)

Australia has conducted a live-fire demonstration of a potential medium-range ground-based air-defence capability that integrates an Australian-developed radar, the Lockheed Martin Aegis Combat System, and a Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) interceptor missile, the Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra announced on 9 July.

The firing activity was conducted by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) during Exercise ‘Taipan Strike 2026', held in June at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia. According to the DoD, the trial involved the interception of a cruise missile target using a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) SM-2 surface-to-air missile launched from a ground-based system.

The DoD said the demonstration integrated a radar developed by Australian company CEA Technologies with a US-developed Aegis Combat System and launcher, marking the first such integration between the systems. It described the activity as a prototype capability designed to inform future medium-range air-defence acquisition decisions.

“The missile firing integrated an Australian radar that communicated with a US weapon control system and missile launcher to shoot down a cruise missile target with an Australian missile,” the DoD said. “This followed a period of close collaboration, innovation and engineering to produce this successful prototype.”

It added, “Australian industry partner CEA Technologies worked with Lockheed Martin to complete this first-of-type integration between a CEA radar and the Aegis Combat System.”

The Australian government said the trial supports efforts to accelerate the development of a medium-range ground-based air-defence capability designed to counter long-range and high-speed missile threats.