Australian Defense Group Unveils New StrikeMaster at LandForces 2022 Exhibition

Australia displays its newest Coast Guard system, StrikeMaster, at the LandForces 2022 exhibition showcasing the latest offerings from an Australian defense company.

Manufacturers of these systems are Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace and Thales Australia, displaying their first actual working prototype of the system in Brisbane.

First Live, Active Missile Displayed

The outlet recalls that this is not the first display of such a system and is the first prototype displayed as a working one. Earlier this year, at the Indo-Pacific 2022 exhibition, a mock-up of the StrikeMaster was officially unveiled, reported Bulgarian Military.

This system was made to order for the Australian Coast Guard's specific needs, which has many coasts to cover down under, characterized as a low-risk solution to deploy ship-killer missiles from land-based missile launchers. According to the Australian Manufacturing Forum, Norway's Kongsberg supplied the main missile armament, which is mounted on the Bushmaster Ute built by Thales Australia.

Missile-Mounted Bushmaster UTE

A 3126E 7.2L Caterpillar Turbocharged powers the vehicle, six-cylinder engine with a maximum horsepower of 300 and 2,200rpm 1,166 Nm [860 lb⋅ft] at 1,440rpm, equipped with an independent, progressive coil spring with the upper control arm and lower wishbone for its suspension system.

A ZF 6HP502 ECOMAT G2n differential combined with a six-speed transmission with one reverse gear powers the Bushmaster.

The vehicle is extremely durable: ballistics surpass STANAG 4569, and, relying upon that layout, the armor seems to be from level 1 to level 3.

Killer Component for StrikeMaster

Ship-killer missiles are Naval Strike missiles (NSM) utilizing the Block A1 strike missile model. This is already in use by the Royal Australian Navy as its chosen armament. Every system has dual-strike NSMs housed in two separate missile holders.

Sources from Australia disclose that these missile holders or modules will be mounted on surface combatants of the Royal Australian Navy.

Specifically, the Hobart and Anzac class warships are good choices to lessen the costs of developing the system that can be shared or swapped will allow systems compatible with many defense systems to be developed at a lower cost.

Naval Strikes Missiles

Once the missile is released from the launchers, it starts looking for its assigned target, powered with a solid-fuel rocket booster; specifically, a Microturbo TRI-40 turbojet engine. It can reach supersonic speed and a maximum standoff range equal to 185 kilometers away.

This missile is remotely guided in several ways, including an integrated GPS-based guidance system, terrain following navigation, and infrared imaging and target data. A version of NASAMS is the command-and-control foundation for the whole system, per Air Force Technology.

Reports suggest slight adjustments will be made to the functionality. Therefore, in a way, this same "anti-ship" feature of the system will be enabled. This whole arrangement is part of the Fire Direction Centre.

No data is available right now about the radar that will be employed. As shown by media stories in Australia, CEA Technology could be engaged in its fabrication.

The StrikeMaster missile system for the Australian Coast Guard coastal defense is used to kill ships from a standoff distance.