Norway to provide Ukraine with two NASAMS air defense missile systems.

According to a statement released by the Norwegian government on March 10, 2023, Norway will provide Ukraine with two complete NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Defense Missile System) batteries in cooperation with the United States. Ukraine has a critical need to defend itself against missile attacks, and Norway will assist, says Norway’s minister of defense, Mr. Bjørn Arild Gram.
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The NASAMS is a short to medium-range air defense missile system. (Picture source Army Recognition)

In cooperation with the United States, Norway will provide Ukraine with two NASAMS firing units. They will come in addition to the two firing units provided by the United States last fall. NASAMS have proved to be an effective air defense system. Adding two more firing units will significantly improve Ukraine’s ability to protect its cities and critical infrastructure from Russian missile attacks. Norway will also train Ukrainian personnel in the maintenance and operation of the system.

Norway has previously contributed equipment and training to US donations of NASAMS to Ukraine. These donations have been highly valued and contributed to defeat missile attacks. Continuing Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure highlight the need to further improve Ukraine’s air defense. Ukraine has repeatedly requested international partners to provide more and better air defense systems, says Gram.

Ukraine has already received several NASAMS batteries and missiles from Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The NASAMS "Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System" is a state-of-the-art medium-range air defense system developed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in partnership with the American company Raytheon. The system is designed to provide air defense against a wide range of airborne threats, including aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The NASAMS system uses the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) as its main weapon, which is a highly effective air-to-air missile used by many countries around the world. The system also includes a range of sensors and command and control capabilities, which allow operators to detect and track targets, and engage them with the appropriate weapon.

The NASAMS system has been exported to a number of countries around the world, including the United States, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Oman. It is widely regarded as one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world and is used by a number of countries to protect critical infrastructure, military bases, and other high-value targets.

The NASAMS is designed to engage aerial targets at medium ranges, typically between 15 and 25 km. The AIM-120 AMRAAM is the primary missile used by the NASAMS system which has a range of up to 120 kilometers. However, the effective range of the missile will depend on a variety of factors, including the altitude of the target, the speed of the missile, and the ability of the missile's guidance system to track the target.