Nasams, the missile system the U.S. will provide to Ukraine to deter Russian attacks
It is the same defense system used by Washington to protect the sensitive airspace surrounding the White House and Capitol Hill. The United States confirmed Monday that the next aid package to Ukraine in the face of the military offensive unleashed by Russia on February 24 will include the delivery of Nasams air defense systems, as well as ammunition for artillery and radar systems.
Designed by the U.S.-based Raytheon Group and Norway’s Kongsberg, Nasams is the same defense system used by Washington to protect the sensitive airspace surrounding the White House and Capitol Hill. It became the first surface-to-air missile system in the Western world with active radar guidance.
Nasams can engage 72 targets simultaneously in active and passive modes. The system’s main missile is AIM-120 AMRAAM, capable of engaging targets at a distance of up to 40 kilometers and at an altitude of up to 14 kilometers. In addition, the system incorporates a Sentinel radar for target detection and tracking with a range of 75 kilometers.
“We need a powerful, modern and fully effective air defense that can guarantee full protection against these missiles. We talk about this every day with our partners. There are already some agreements. And partners have to move faster if they are really partners, not observers,” Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski said.
“Delays in the transfer of weapons to our state, any restrictions, are actually an invitation for Russia to attack again and again,” he added.
