Australia proceeds with CEA radars for NASAMS air defense system

The CEATAC short range tactical radar. Photo c/o Tim Fish.

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has signed the contract with Australian technology company CEA Technologies for the supply of active phased-array tactical radars to provide detection and cueing for the future National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) ground-based air defense system (GBADS).

The program is part of the LAND 10 Phase 7B project for the Australian Army (AA), calling for a short-medium range ground-based air defense capability. No quantity or delivery schedule was provided by the DoD for this milestone.

The new radars, which will include short range model called the CEATAC that can be mounted on the Thales Australia Hawkei protected tactical vehicle or on trailers. 

A longer-range fixed or truck-mounted versions called the CEAOPS surveillance and cueing radar is also being developed as an evolution of the CEA Technologies’ active phased-array S-band ground based multi-mission radar. 

The CEAOPS can be integrated to a larger network of sensors of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The Raytheon-Kongsberg NASAMS will use the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) as primary munitions, both of which are already in service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). 

The system will replace the existing Saab RBS70 current used in the short range air defense role.


[1] Jane’s Defence Weekly
[2] Monch Publishing Group