Kyiv buys one NASAMS air-defense system, Washington approved
Kyiv will acquire by purchasing one NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system manufactured by Raytheon. The price that Ukraine will pay is 285 million USD. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency [DSCA] has already notified Congress.
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The NASAMS battery that Ukraine will acquire includes full equipment. I.e. AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, fire distribution center [FDC], communication systems, GPS receivers, and container launchers. The deal also includes tools, crew, various types of equipment, as well as spare parts, and prime movers.
Ukraine already operates with NASAMS in the war against Russia. But the two systems used so far have been donated, and this is the first one purchased.
NASAMS is considered one of the best anti-aircraft missile systems in the world. At the end of last year the Secretary of Defense of the United States, Mr. Lloyd Austin announced that the armed forces of Ukraine are already using the delivered NASAMS systems and “have a 100% success rate”. Washington has promised to deliver a total of eight NASAMS systems to Ukraine. The remaining six will be delivered in the next 12 to 24 months. They will be part of Ukraine’s future strategic anti-aircraft missile system.
On November 17, 2022, a video appeared on social networks. The author of the tweet claimed that the video recorded the successful interception of a Russian Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile by an interceptor launched by NASAMS. The authenticity of the information remains unconfirmed.
DSCA says the sale of NASAMS to Ukraine will improve the country’s anti-aircraft capabilities. In a document released by the agency announcing the sale, NASAMS will improve Ukraine’s capabilities against “Russian missile attacks and aircraft.”
The Ukrainian NASAMS will be manufactured in Tucson, Arizona by Raytheon Missiles and Defense. According to the DCCA, the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not change the basic military balance in the region.
NASAMS in brief
NASAMS is Norway’s national air defense system. Its range is medium and is designed to counter drones, helicopters, and all types of fighter jets. NASAMS successfully resisted, intercepted, and destroyed cruise missiles.
Currently, nine countries are operating this anti-aircraft missile system and five more are in line waiting for a response to its acquisition. NASAMS has an average range: of between 25 and 30 km, depending on the missile used. The maximum altitude at which the rocket flies is 21 km.
NASAMS can be integrated into vehicles and thus from a ground-based to become a mobile system for difficult terrain. The system can often be seen on a 6×6 chassis, but its practicality is that after a quick modification, it can be easily integrated into vehicles with a 4×4 chassis.
NASAMS I of the system works with US-built MPQ-64 Sentinel air defense X band 3D radar, but NASAMS II in addition to having Link 16 has a significant update of the radar system, as experts say that it is better than version 1 It should be noted that NASAMS has secondary armaments that serve the crew of the system to provide protection in close combat. Secondary integrated weapons are the RBS 70 laser beam assisted MANPADS system, and the Bofors 40mm L70 gun [controlled by the Oerlikon Contraves FCS2000 mono-pulse doppler tracking radar].
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