A Norwegian National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) in action during exercise Formidable Shield (Norwegian Armed Forces on X)
BELFAST — Norway, US missile maker RTX and industry partner Kongsberg, have signed a new National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) collaboration agreement set to improve air defense capabilities of the platform.
Bjørn Arild Gram, Norway’s minister of defense, said in a statement that the agreement “lays the foundation” for developing NASAMS against future threats, although no details have been released about how the system will be matured specifically.
To support future NASAMS procurement, Norway plans on submitting two air defense projects to parliament for approval in state budget 2023 revisions “this autumn,” added the Norwegian government. Regarding those lines of effort, Project 7821 will cover acquisition of NASAMS missiles with Project 1146 focused on restocking “main components” donated to Ukraine.
Additionally, the government will also present a proposal to “change the scope” of Project 7628 Combat Air Defence, tied to procurement of the Army Mobile Ground Based Air Defence System (MGBADS). Oslo stressed that the requested change is necessary because of “previous donations.”
The push toward developing new NASAMS capabilities arrives weeks after Lars Lervik, chief of staff of the Norwegian Army, told Breaking Defense that a decision by the Norwegian government not to pursue an option for 18 German-made Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks, had been made to prioritize air defense and long-range fires investments.
Norway said in March it had agreed to send two NASAMS to Ukraine for defense against Russian missile attacks. A set of four NASAMS were also included in a $1.3 billion military aid package for Kyiv announced by the US government in July 2023. The DoD also included supply of additional NASAMS munitions in a $150 million Ukraine equipment package last week.
Additionally, Lithuania committed to buying two NASAMS for Ukraine at a cost of €9.8 million euros ($10.7 million) in June, according to Reuters.
To cover Baltic security and NATO collective air defense requirements, Spain has deployed a second NASAMS battery to Amari, Estonia, after deploying a first to Kaunas Air Base, Lithuania, in July.
NASAMS is a medium-range, netcentric air defense type, designed to engage fixed or rotary wing aircraft, uncrewed aerial systems and cruise missiles.
A typical NASAMS unit consists of a command post or Fire Direction Center, Raytheon’s AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel active 3D radar, a passive electro-optical and infrared sensor and several missile canister launchers with AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) munitions, according to Kongsberg company literature.
RTX notes that the system is operated by 13 countries.
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