Norway contemplates bolstering Ukraine's defence with more NASAMS systems
Norwegian authorities believe that the addition of more NASAMS systems would bolster Ukraine's air defense, which the nation urgently requires due to the escalating number of air attacks from Russia. "The Norwegian NASAMS system protects Ukrainian lives and prevents the ruin of buildings and infrastructure. The pervasive and ruthless Russian missile and drone attacks make air defense absolutely vital for Ukraine," conveyed the Norwegian Minister of Defence, Bjørn Arild Gram. He also stressed that Norway must not overlook the necessity to replenish its own defense systems.
NASAMS for Ukraine
Norway has previously supplied Ukraine with two command centers and two NASAMS launchers. The United States also provided such systems at the onset of the conflict, and Lithuania opted to purchase and transfer them at a later date. Notably, at the tail end of 2022, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, asserted, "The NASAMS anti-aircraft defense systems delivered by the U.S. have proved to be 100% effective in intercepting Russian missiles in Ukraine".
Therefore, the provision of more units could notably fortify Ukraine's anti-aircraft defense capabilities. The weapon is incredibly efficient, and Ukrainians already have experience operating it, so additional training in its use will not be necessary. As we've reported before, the NASAMS is a medium-range air defense system developed jointly by the American firm Raytheon and the Norwegian company Kongsberg. The system is frequently called the protector of the U.S. capital since it is used, among other things, to secure the airspace over Washington.
Originating with the Norwegian army in 1998, the NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System) was initially developed for their use. Over the following years, its developmental versions were created and adopted by other military forces. The latest version, the NASAMS-3, produced in 2019, is also utilized by Americans. In this configuration, the system can hit aerial targets up to approximately 59 kilometers away.
A single NASAMS complex comprises, among other elements, a command center, launchers, and radar stations. The solution is compatible with AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, including the extended-range variant, AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II, and IRIS-T. AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles are recognized as one of the most frequently deployed air-to-air missiles globally, influencing their availability and production scale.
