Norway, Kongsberg, Raytheon to Enhance NASAMS Air Defense System's Capabilities

The Norwegian Ministry of Defence unveiled a collaborative partnership with local company Kongsberg and U.S.-based Raytheon aimed at fortifying the Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS).

The agreement, formally inked at the Norwegian ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C., brings together Norway, Raytheon, an RTX business, and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, setting the stage for further bolstering NASAMS' air defense capabilities.

The initiative comes in response to the growing importance of air defense in modern warfare, underscored by recent events in Ukraine. "We need to strengthen and further expand air defense to better protect civilian and military targets against airborne threats. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated how crucial air defense is in war," emphasized Bjørn Arild Gram, Norway's Minister of Defence.

Furthermore, the Norwegian government has outlined plans to submit two air defense projects to the Storting for parliamentary approval in the forthcoming state budget 2023 revisions under the Ministry of Defence. These projects include:

Project 7821: This project aims to acquire missiles to further strengthen the NASAMS air defense system, ensuring its effectiveness in countering airborne threats.

Project 1146: Focused on re-acquiring donated main components for NASAMS, this project will enhance the system's core capabilities.

In addition to these initiatives, there will be a proposal to adjust the scope of Project 7628 Combat Air Defence due to previous donations. These strategic steps reflect Norway's commitment to fortify its air defense capabilities and safeguard both its population and critical assets in an ever-changing security landscape.