Ukrainian air defense capabilities are to be greatly enhanced with the addition of six more modern NASAMS air defense systems.
The Pentagon announced the composition of the latest military assistance package it will deliver to Ukraine, valued at nearly USD 3 billion, which includes the transfer of six NASAMS air defense systems, along with an unspecified number of missiles.
This latest military assistance package also includes:
- Up to 245,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition;
- Up to 65,000 rounds of 120mm mortar ammunition;
- Up to 24 counter-artillery radars;
- Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and support equipment for Scan Eagle UAS systems;
- VAMPIRE Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems;
- Laser-guided rocket systems;
- Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment.
The United States has committed more than $13.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since January 2021. In total, the United States has committed more than $15.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014.
These six new anti-aircraft batteries will be in addition to the two the U.S. had already announced it would deliver to Ukraine.
NASAMS
Designed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg, the Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (or NASAMS) is an air defense system characterized by its network-centric architecture, fully integrable with national air and missile defense systems. And, depending on the composition of its munitions, it can intercept targets at short, medium and long ranges.
NASAMS supports several types of surveillance radars, launchers and munitions, giving it great operational flexibility.
The system can use the same AMRAAM and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles used by fighter aircraft to cover low and medium ranges with the same launcher. In its latest version, the AMRAAM extended-range missiles (AMRAAM ER) and the AIM-9X-2 were incorporated. The AMRAAM ER significantly extends the interception radius of the NASAMS (50% more in range and 70% more in height than the AMRAAM C-7), while the AIM-9X-2 is optimized for shorter ranges.
Effective defense, no longer only at low level
During the course the war, Ukraine was able to deploy in a short time a remarkable low-level air defense capability, which resulted in the shooting down of a large number of Russian air assets, in particular helicopters.
See also: Manpads in Ukraine: The return of Russian aircraft’s biggest fear
With the addition of eight NASAMS missile batteries, along with IRIS-T SLM/SLS systems recently on loan from Germany, Ukraine will not only have a credible capability to intercept aircraft flying at higher altitudes, but will also greatly improve its defense against Russian cruise missiles.
