NASAMS, short for National/Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System, is an advanced ground-to-air missile defense system deployed by the United States to protect Washington, D.C., and several other critical locations such as the White House against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, cruise missiles, and fighter aircraft in general.
NASAMS is also a unique application of the AIM-120 AMRAAM – the world’s most widely produced air-to-air missile, with over 14,000 units manufactured by 2008. This medium-range air defense system was designed and produced by Norway’s Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace in cooperation with Raytheon of the United States under the NASAMS collaboration program initiated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force in the 1990s. Currently, in addition to the United States and Norway, NASAMS is used by several other countries including Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Lithuania, Australia, and Indonesia. Additional nations such as Oman, Hungary, and Qatar have also placed orders for NASAMS.
NASAMS equipped with a multi-launch rocket system.
NASAMS features a multi-launch rocket system (LCHR) that can carry six missiles ready for launch. The design goal of the LCHR is to easily transport, aim, and fire different types of missiles from the same launcher. Six missiles can be launched in just a few seconds to target six different objectives. NASAMS can be configured as a fixed launcher or mounted on military trucks. Firepower is controlled by several integrated and coordinated systems.
NASAMS can be a fixed launcher or mounted on military trucks.
The “eye” of NASAMS is the 3D X-band radar system – AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel developed by Raytheon. The antenna employs phased array electronic scanning technology to form 3D beams covering a large area. The radar platform rotates at a speed of 30 rpm to provide 360-degree scanning coverage and is designed to withstand electronic countermeasures (ECM) and anti-radiation missiles (ARM). The radar’s maximum scanning range is up to 75 km, with optimal effectiveness at about 40 km. The system automatically collects, tracks, classifies, identifies, and reports high and low-altitude targets such as guided missiles, UAVs, fixed-wing aircraft, and rotary-wing aircraft.
The antenna uses phased array electronic scanning technology to form 3D beams that cover a large area.
The BMC4I battle management system (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) developed by Norway is called FDC, short for Fire Distribution Center. The FDC connects to the MPQ-64 radar, forming the Air Defense Control and Radar Collection System (ARCS). NASAMS’s capabilities are enhanced through a connected and distributed firepower system.
NASAMS can be deployed with multiple launchers.
NASAMS can be deployed with multiple launchers, with a maximum of 12 launch tubes and 72 missiles on the same network, which can be controlled simultaneously. Additionally, mobile launch systems mounted on trucks or light military vehicles like Humvees can be connected to the FDC for remote deployment and control from a maximum distance of 25 km from the FDC.
NASAMS also features an electro-optical (EO) sensor mounted on vehicle (MSP500).
In addition to the MPQ-64 Sentinel radar, NASAMS is equipped with an electro-optical (EO) sensor mounted on the vehicle (MSP500) that provides passive signal data to the FDC for conducting passive engagements.
In the 1990s, the first-generation NASAMS was deployed by the Royal Norwegian Air Force as an integrated ground-based air defense system called Norwegian Solution (NORSOL). This system connected the ACRS with two air defense systems via wired and radio communications. NORSOL also incorporated the RBS 70 shoulder-fired air defense missile and the Bofors 40mm L70 gun controlled by the Oerlikon Contraves FCS2000 tracking radar.
By the early 2000s, NASAMS 2 was developed with a major upgrade featuring the military standard tactical data link Link 16 used by NATO and countries authorized by the MIDS International Program Office (IPO), along with the improved AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar. The new radar can be mounted on various platforms instead of just being a trailer-based system, has its own power supply, and can distribute data independently. The radar also has a wider frequency range and multiple rotation speeds to enhance detection and tracking capabilities.
The new radar can be mounted on various platforms instead of just being a trailer-based system.
NASAMS 3 was improved and successfully tested by the Royal Norwegian Air Force in 2019. The third generation of NASAMS features an upgraded FDC with multiple control screens, redesigned launch tubes to fire short-range air-to-air missiles AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II and extended-range AMRAAM-ER missiles alongside the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Additionally, Raytheon upgraded the radar for NASAMS 3 with the GhostEye MR system – an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar operating in the S-band, utilizing technologies similar to those used in the MIM-104 Patriot air defense system.
As mentioned, the primary weapon of NASAMS is the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. This is an advanced medium-range air-to-air missile deployed on various aircraft such as the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-22, F-4F, Sea Harrier, Harrier II Plus, Eurofighter, JAS-30 Gripen, JA-37 Viggen, and Tornado. NASAMS employs variants such as AIM-120 AMRAAM B/C5 and C7. The AIM-120 can carry high-explosive fragmentation warheads weighing 22.7 kg or 18.1 kg, with a two-stage guidance mechanism. Through radar, target data is sent to the missile just before launch, allowing the missile to determine the target’s position from the launch point, as well as the target’s direction and speed. The missile then uses this data to fly along an intercept trajectory with an integrated inertial navigation system (INS). After launch, target data is continuously updated from the radar, enabling the missile to adjust its flight path using rear control fins. This allows the missile to approach the target at a self-guided range, close enough to lock onto the target within a zone referred to as the “basket” – the radar observation area of the missile in which it can autonomously lock onto the target.
The primary weapon of NASAMS is the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.
As the missile approaches the self-guided range, it activates its active radar seeker and searches for the target. If the target is within or near the expected position, the missile will locate it and self-guide towards the target from that point onward and detonate. If the missile is fired at short range, within visual range (WVR) or near Boresight Visual Range (BVR), this mode, known as free guidance without radar, allows the missile to lock onto the first object it sees. The AIM-120 AMRAAM travels at speeds of up to Mach 4 (4,900 km/h) and, when launched from NASAMS, has a maximum range of 33 km and a maximum flight altitude of 15 km.
In addition to the AIM-120 AMRAAM, the newer generations of NASAMS can fire the AMRAAM-ER missile. The AMRAAM-ER is essentially a variant of the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow (ESSM) used on naval vessels. It utilizes the propulsion rocket of the ESSM combined with the two-stage guidance seeker of the AMRAAM, extending the range to 50 km and reaching targets at altitudes of 25 km. NASAMS 3 can also launch the renowned short-range intercept missile from Raytheon, the AIM-9 Sidewinder, with the AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II variant. The video below demonstrates the AIM-9X intercept test against remotely controlled F-4s.
In the United States, the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) is employed to protect the airspace over Washington, D.C., as well as the airspace surrounding the White House. The U.S. has also agreed to transfer NASAMS to Ukraine as part of an $820 million military aid package. Two NASAMS systems will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks, likely from Norway’s weapons stockpile. It remains unclear which generation of NASAMS Ukraine will receive. Ukrainian forces will also require time to train on how to operate NASAMS. Previously, Ukraine relied heavily on air defense systems such as the Buk (SA-11 Gadfly) and S-300, many of which have been destroyed.
The advantage of NASAMS when deployed in Ukraine is that the Ukrainian military is already using AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar systems. Furthermore, through the Fire Distribution Center (FDC), NASAMS can be deployed in a distributed configuration with radars and missile batteries connected via NATO-standard tactical data links. The FDC can manage up to 72 missiles simultaneously; if one or more nodes in this air defense network are destroyed or go offline, the remaining nodes continue to operate. This feature enhances the likelihood of the system’s survival against Russian suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) missions that utilize air-to-ground missiles, such as the Kh-31 (AS-17 Krypton), which are capable of effectively targeting radar systems.
