U.S. NASAMS, Spanish Aspide Air Defense Systems Arrive in Ukraine

Ukraine’s defense minister Oleksii Reznikov has confirmed that U.S.-made NASAMS and Spanish ASPIDE air defense systems will soon start protecting Ukrainian skies.

"NASAMS and Aspide air defense systems have arrived in Ukraine. These weapons will significantly strengthen Ukrainian army and will make our skies safer. Thanks to our partners: Norway, Spain and the U.S.,” Reznikov tweeted on November 7.

Raytheon Technologies confirmed it handed over two of eight NASAMS systems meant for Kyiv, to the U.S. government.

Produced by Raytheon and Kongsberg, the NASAMS includes launchers and AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar stations. Raytheon is responsible for supplying AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles for this system, and Kongsberg is a supplier of launchers. Each mobile launcher is equipped with six containers with anti-aircraft missiles. The range of the NASAMS II anti-aircraft system configuration using AIM-120С AMRAAM missiles is up to 25 km, and the reach in altitude is up to 14-15 km.

The media reported on Spain's plans to supply to Kyiv Aspide batteries, M113 armored personnel carriers and tons of artillery shells. Jointly developed by Spain and Italy, the Spada Aspide ground-based anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) is also known as Skyguard Aspide. It was designed in the course of modifying the Aspide missile for its use on land platforms. The missile system is mounted on the American RIM-7E Sea Sparrow. The missile is equipped with a semi-active radar. The radius of action reaches 35 km. The height of hitting the targets is 8,000 m. The flight speed is 1,324 m/s, while the weight of the warhead is 30 kg.

Ukraine’s military is also awaiting a delivery of HAWK missile systems from Spain. Italy and France are expected to transfer the STAMP-T system. The French government has announced the transfer of Crotale air defense systems to Ukraine as well.