Norway Orders NASAMS Air Defense Systems for $450M

Norway has ordered new NASAMS air defense systems from Kongsberg worth approximately NOK 4.8 billion ($450 million).

The contract with the Norwegian Defence Material Agency includes new multi-missile canister launchers and new Fire Distribution Centers for NASAMS, replacing equipment previously donated to Ukraine.

“Air defense is crucial for the defense of both Norway and Ukraine. We are now increasing volume and upgrading the existing NASAMS system with modern equipment capable of intercepting a variety of threats. The current security situation dictates that we must accelerate the development of air defense and the upgrade of NASAMS. This agreement ensures rapid delivery to the Armed Forces and contributes to increasing production capacity in the defense industry,” said Norway’s Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram.

The NOK 4.8 billion contract includes a fixed-price option worth NOK 2.5 billion for more air defense with validity until January 2025. Assuming parliamentary approval, the NDMA will thus have acquired four completely new NASAMS batteries within just one year.

NASAMS Air Defense System

NASAMS operates through a network of distributed components, including radar systems, command posts, and missile launchers. 

NASAMS has two primary versions: NASAMS 2 and NASAMS 3 (AMRAAM-ER). NASAMS 2 offers a missile range of up to 30 km using AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and features a radar track range of up to 120 km with the MPQ-64F1 radar. It is capable of intercepting targets at altitudes of up to 21 km and can defend against UAVs, helicopters, cruise missiles, and fixed-wing aircraft, while also supporting Link 16 communication.

On the other hand, NASAMS 3 extends the missile range to 50 km using AIM-120 AMRAAM-ER missiles and can intercept targets at altitudes of up to 35.7 km. This version introduces AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles and mobile air-liftable launchers, and it is compatible with longer-range systems like the Patriot. The standard NASAMS unit combines active 3D radar, passive electro-optical sensors, and AMRAAM missile launchers, providing robust air defense capabilities.