Australia declares its new air defense missile system combat ready

Australia declared its NASAMS ground-based air-defense capability at final operational capability after completing the required acceptance, training and integration milestones. The system links distributed sensors, command-and-control nodes and networked launchers to engage aircraft, cruise missiles and selected uncrewed threats with beyond-visual-range interceptors. Reaching the milestone means the Australian Defence Force can employ and sustain the capability at the approved operational standard, although it does not end modernization; software, sensor integration, missile stocks and interoperability will continue to evolve as the wider integrated air-and-missile defense architecture develops.