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NASAMS

The NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) medium-range mobile anti-aircraft missile complex is designed to hit air targets at low and medium altitudes in any weather conditions. Adopted by the Norwegian Air Force in 1994 to replace the Improved Hawk complexes, which is superior in terms of combat capabilities. Namely: it is able to simultaneously accompany and hit a larger number of targets, the time to transfer the complex from a derivative position to a combat position has been reduced. At the same time, the number of service personnel is reduced by four times, NASAMS has a greater degree of unification of equipment and the possibility of combining it with other systems.

The NASAMS air defense system is produced by a consortium of the American corporation Raytheon Technologies and the Norwegian group Kongsberg. The complex includes launchers, radar stations (radar) Raytheon AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel from the Raytheon and Kongsberg consortium. Raytheon is responsible for supplying its AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles for the system, while Kongsberg is supplying the launchers. Each mobile launcher has six containers with anti-aircraft missiles. The firing range of the anti-aircraft system in the NASAMS II configuration using AIM-120X AMRAAM missiles is up to 25 km, and the height range is up to 14-15 km.

The main tactical unit of the NASAMS air defense system is a battery. It consists of three fire platoons (total set of 54 missiles), united in an information network in such a way that each of the three radars is able to replace all others. The battery command post (located at one of the fire control points) can receive targeting from higher headquarters and issue data on the air situation to the platoon fire control points. Moreover, all 54 missiles can be fired at different targets within 12 seconds.

The AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel multifunctional radar station provides detection, recognition and simultaneous tracking of up to 60 air targets, as well as targeting of up to three anti-aircraft missiles selected from them. The radar performs a survey of space due to the mechanical rotation of the antenna in azimuth and electronic scanning in the elevation angle. The operation of the radar is controlled using an electronic computer (ECM) of the fire control point. The deployment time of the radar and its preparation for work takes 10 minutes. All station equipment is installed on a towed trailer. By the way, to ensure combat work in a difficult obstacle environment, the NASAMS complex is equipped with an optoelectronic guidance system — NTAS (Norwegian Tracking Adjunct System).

On 07 November 2022, Ukraine received another delivery of sophisticated air-defense systems: NASAMS, sent from the United States. The system uses AMRAAM missiles with a range of 40 kilometers (the newer version could even reach 100 kilometers), capable of hitting various targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles. The United Kingdom is set to donate hundreds of these to Ukraine.

NASAMS was developed in the 1990s by U.S. and Norwegian companies, and it is the same system that protects the airspace around Washington, D.C. It is a middle-range defense system, armed with three launchers that can carry a total of 18 missiles (up to six missiles each). Its radar uses multiple sources of data, which enables it to intercept targets beyond visual range. The system can also engage multiple targets simultaneously, so it is less likely to be overwhelmed by a large number of attack missiles.

Ukraine expected the arrival of two batteries of NASAMS air defense systems in early November. At the end of October, it became known that the manufacturing company Raytheon Technologies had already transferred them to the US government. These are the first two of eight batteries of NASAMS air defense systems that will arrive in Ukraine from partners.

Raytheon Technologies handed over two modern NASAMS air defense systems intended for Ukraine to the United States government, its executive director Greg Hayes said on 26 October 2022. "We have just delivered two NASAMS complexes. We handed over two of them to the government a few weeks ago. Soon they will be deployed in Ukraine. It's a short-range air defense system, and it can shoot down everything in the sky: from drones to ballistic missiles and fighter jets," Hayes said in an interview with CNBC.

The US had promised to deliver two NASAMS systems within weeks and six more over a longer period of time. Pentagon officials said that the first NASAMS systems were acquired quickly, as the bulk of the systems had already been produced. A senior Pentagon official said Monday that the NASAMS are expected to be delivered "within the next few weeks." The US military "will continue to work hard to get them there as quickly as possible," he said. Greg Hayes said Raytheon Technologies expects to receive more orders from NASAMS "soon" due to increased demand for the company's products since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

New anti-aircraft defense equipment arrived in Ukraine. This was announced 07 November 2022 by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov. "Look who visited us! NASAMS and Aspide anti-aircraft missile complexes have arrived in Ukraine! These weapons will significantly strengthen the Ukrainian army and make our skies safer. We will continue to shoot down enemy targets that attack us. Thanks to our partners: Norway, Spain and the United States".

Norway will provide Ukraine with two NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM). This is stated in a message published on 10 March 2023 on the official website of the kingdom's government, which refers to Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram, who visited Kiev. "Norway has previously provided equipment and training for the American NASAMS air defense systems transferred to Ukraine. This contribution was highly appreciated and contributed to repelling missile attacks. The ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure highlight the need to further improve Ukraine's air defense. Kiev has repeatedly asked international partners to provide air defense systems in large quantities and of better quality," Gram said.

On 24 May 2023 the US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $285 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress.

The Government of Ukraine requested to buy the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), that includes: one (1) AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel Radar. Also included are a Fire Distribution Center (FDC); canister launchers, secure communications, GPS receivers, code loaders, and cable sets; tool kits; test equipment; support equipment; prime movers; generators; technical documentation; spare parts; U.S. Government and contractor technical support; and other related elements of logistics and program support.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. Ukraine has an urgent need to increase its capabilities to defend against Russian missile strikes and aircraft. Acquiring and effectively deploying this capability will enhance Ukraine's ability to defend its people and protect critical national infrastructure.

Lithuania purchased two NASAMS short- to medium-range ground-based air defense systems for Ukraine, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on 28 June 2023, expressing hope that the NATO summit in Vilnius would bring more collective decisions on arms supplies to Kiev. "Lithuania has acquired two NASAMS launchers that will be transferred to Ukraine … Looking forward to more collective decisions on support to Ukraine at the #NATO summit in Vilnius," Nauseda tweeted. In February 2023, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said that Vilnius had handed over Stinger man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) to Kiev and sent its military to Ukraine to train the country’s troops to operate the weapons.