Norway to provide additional NASAMS air defense systems for Ukraine
13 December, 2023 NASAMS air defense system. Photo from the network The Norwegian government approved the transfer of additional NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine.
The news was published on the Norwegian government website. Norway will provide Ukraine with additional NASAMS air defense systems worth £30 million. Some of the equipment will be shipped directly from the country's armed forces stocks to ensure quick delivery to Ukraine, while the rest will be ordered and delivered later.
Interior of the command post of the NASAMS air defense system.
Photo from open sources
The composition of the defense assistance is currently unknown. However, the report states that the Norwegian government has ordered the production of eight launchers and four command posts. In addition, it is specified that the cost of the equipment planned for transfer from the Norwegian Armed Forces stocks is equivalent to the cost of the ordered equipment.
Additional launchers and command posts can be included in the network of systems already deployed in Ukraine or form a new one. In July of this year, Norway handed over another batch of air defense system elements. The aid package included two additional command posts, two launchers, and spare parts.
In addition to air defense equipment, the new aid package includes funding for the defense industry to increase its capacity to produce ammunition and missiles. NASAMS is a Norwegian-American medium-range anti-aircraft missile system, produced by a consortium of the American corporation Raytheon Technologies and the Norwegian Kongsberg group. The main tactical unit of NASAMS is the battery.
The composition of the battery can vary, but it usually includes three firing units, each of which includes 2 to 3 missile launchers, one AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar station, one control vehicle, and one vehicle with an MSP500 electro-optical system.
NASAMS air defense system.
2014, Norway. Photo credits: David van Keulen
Each mobile launcher is equipped with six containers with anti-aircraft missiles.
The range of the NASAMS II anti-aircraft system configuration using AIM-120?
AMRAAM missiles is up to 25 km, and the reach in altitude is up to 14-15 km.
The latest version of the NASAMS III system is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 40 km.