Ukraine receives two NASAMS missile air defense systems from US

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview broadcast on Sunday, September 25, that Ukraine had received sophisticated air defense systems from the United States, Reuters reports. It was the first acknowledgment that Ukraine had received the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), long sought by Kyiv and whose shipment was approved by Washington late last month.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

NASAMS displayed at MSPO 2015 defense exhibition in Poland (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on August 26, 2022, announced a $182,295,333 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) for Ukraine. During a press conference of the DoD on September 16, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder announced that two NASAMS were expected to be delivered to Ukraine in the next two months. The operation has been completed much ahead on schedule, it appears.

The NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System) is designed and manufactured by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace teamed up with Raytheon from the United States for the missile.

Since the introduction in Norway in 2015, another four countries in NATO and the EU have acquired NASAMS. It can identify, engage and destroy threats, including enemy aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles

A standard NASAMS unit has a modular design including a command post called FDC Fire Distribution Center, an active 3D radar AN/MPQ64F1 Sentinel, a passive electro-optic and infra-red sensor, and a number of missile canister launchers with AMRAAM missiles. Usually, four NASAMS units are connected in a battalion network.

The missile of the NASAMS can engage 72 targets simultaneously in active and passive modes. The primary missile of the system is AIM-120 AMRAAM. The missile is able to hit targets at a range of up to 40 km and at an altitude of up to 14 km. The NASAMS can also fire the AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II short-range missile. It can be deployed to perform air-to-air engagements, surface-attack, and surface-launch missions without the need for modifications.

NASAMS displayed at MSPO 2013 defense exhibition in Poland (Picture source: Army Recognition)