I know I am not directly answering the original question, but I don?t think that I could justify purchasing medium to long range SAMs for the ADF.

Perhaps a land based SM-3 / SPY-1D / SPY-3 / CEA radar installation would make sense for ballistic missile defense, but only if the longer ranged block II version of SM-3 is used, and that is still under development.

Surely a much more relevant air defense requirement for the ADF would be C-RAM, for use in Afghanistan?

Perhaps a combined:
? C-RAM
? Anti UAV
? Cruise missile defense

System would make greater sense for the ADF.

But I see no clear option for this:

1)
A land based Phalanx with software and ammunition changes and integration with an artillery spotting radar would seem to be the best short term option for C-RAM in Afghanistan. Especially as the US, Israel, and I think Canada are working along these lines. And especially as we have some Naval Phalanx mounts already. But Phalanx is quite short ranged and not very capable against anything larger than a mortar or a smaller Katusha.

2)
The various SLAMRAAM / NASAM variants would not be appropriate for these tasks. Or at least not appropriate for C-RAM as the missiles are expensive and the active radar seeker might not lock onto a mortar bomb or Katusha! Although a SLAMRAAM would make a good cruise missile defense system as it is not dependant on line of sight command or illumination.

3)
A GBAD ESSM would probably not be appropriate for these tasks as the terminal semi active radar illumination is line of sight dependant.

4)
The 35mm Skyshield system with AHEAD rounds has been mentioned several times in other threads as a combined C-RAM and Naval CIWS, but the Israelis seemed unimpressed with the C-RAM capability of its tungsten pellets. I think that they went with a Phalanx variant in the short term and are developing their ?Iron Cap? (?) system in the medium term for C-RAM.

5)
One logical solution would seem to be the Swedish BAMSE.

Its pros would be:
? Relatively cheap command guided missiles
? Claimed all target capability, including PGMs, cruise missiles, short range ballistic missiles, and UAVs as well as aircraft
? Its two stage design would give it a much greater altitude coverage and a greater chance of intercepting larger artillery rockets and short range ballistic missiles

But the BAMSE:
? Is line of sight dependant due to its command guided missiles, so it might not be the best for anti UAV or cruise missile defense
? Hasn?t sold outside Sweden at all, and even the Swedish Navy purchased Umkhonto for the Visbys due to the multiple terminal channels of fire benefits of the IIR guided Umkhonto

6)
Perhaps a smaller command guided SAM with terminal IIR homing might make sense. I was thinking here of Umkhonto or VL IRIS-T. These (relatively cheap) missiles could be entirely command guided against C-RAM threats but could use the (non line of sight dependant) IIR homing against UAVs and cruise missiles. And the Umkhonto at least would make a capable Naval SHORADS / CIWS, albeit one that overlaps somewhat with ESSM.

Perhaps a similar affect could be achieved with VL-ASRAAM, as it has thrust vectoring and LOAL/command guidance capabilities?

7)
Perhaps Australian industry could come up with a CEAFAR / CEAMOUNT / ESSM / Phalanx combination. This would be developmental, but could perhaps piggy back on the ANZAC ASMD upgrade?

8)
An ASRADS / Bolide / RBS-70 variant might make some sense, as the relatively cheap laser beam riding missiles might be capable against C-RAM targets and the RBS-70 is already in ADF service. But there has been no mention of a C-RAM ASRADs. And I am not sure which radar could be used. Maybe Saab has done some work integrating Arthur (?) and Giraffe-AMB with RBS-70?

9)
A solid state laser Phalanx might be excellent for C-RAM in dry areas like Iraq or Afghanistan, but this is still under development, and might not be the best for cruise missile defense of ADF forces deployed in a misty Pacific jungle!

10)
An out in left field option might be a variant of the Russian Pantsyr!

Before everyone laughs at this, there is some method to this madness.