National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS)

National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS)

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Updated December 1, 2022
National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS)
Background
aircraft. It features an X-Band, 360-degree phased array air
As part of past U.S. arms and equipment transfers to
defense radar with a 75-kilometer (approximately 47-mile)
Ukraine, the only dedicated air defense system provided has
range to identify targets. Sentinel is equipped with an
been the FIM-92 Stinger man-portable, disposable, short-
electronic counter-counter-measure (ECCM) system that
range air defense system. The Biden Administration has
includes two subsystems—an identification friend or foe
announced plans to provide the National Advanced
(IFF) subsystem for positive identification of friendly
Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to Ukraine to
aircraft, and a noncooperative target recognition capabilities
protect against certain Russian air threats. NASAMS
subsystem to identify enemy aircraft. Sentinel is trailer-
increases not only the range at which air threats can be
mounted and pulled by either a High Mobility Multipurpose
engaged, but also the range at which air threats can be
Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) or an M1082 Family of
detected and tracked. NASAMS is a reloadable system and
Medium Tactical Vehicles truck. The United States has
provides a capability to engage multiple targets, whereas
already provided Ukraine a number of Sentinel radars and
the Stinger can engage only a single target.
tactical vehicles, so Ukrainian forces should be familiar
with these systems.
What Is the National Advanced Surface-
to-Air Missile System (NASAMS)?
Figure 2. AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel Radar
The National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System
(NASAMS) (Figure 1) is a mid-range air defense system
designed and developed jointly by Raytheon (United States)
and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Norway).
Figure 1. Notional NASAMS Unit

Source: Raytheon Missiles & Defense website.

Source: Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace website.
AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air
Missile (AMRAAM)
Militaries can deploy NASAMS to identify, engage, and
According to Raytheon, the AMRAAM (Figure 3) is a
destroy fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, cruise missiles, and
dual-role missile that offers operational flexibility in air-to-
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is designed to protect
air and surface-launch engagements. In the air-to-air mode,
high-value assets and population centers against air-to-
AMRAAM’s advanced active guidance sensor and seeker
surface threats. According to the Missile Defense Advocacy
supposedly can rapidly acquire targets in challenging
Alliance, a nonpartisan, nonprofit missile defense education
environments. In the surface-launch mode, NASAMS
organization:
permits countries to use the same missile in either role with
no modifications. Reportedly, AMRAAMs employed by
NASAMS reached operational capability in 1994
NASAMS have a 40-kilometer (approximately 25-mile)
and was first deployed by the Royal Norwegian Air
range, and longer-range missiles are currently under
Force. The system can engage 72 targets
development. AMRAAMs are subject to the Department of
simultaneously in active and passive modes and,
Defense’s (DOD’s) Enhanced End-Use Monitoring
using active seeker missiles, can intercept targets
(EEUM), which is used to verify that defense articles
beyond visual range. The NASAMS is armed with
transferred by the United States to foreign recipients are
three launchers, each carrying up to six missiles.
procured in accordance with transfer agreements and used
only for their intended purposes.
NASAMS consists of three primary components: the
AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel Radar, the AIM-120 Advanced
Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), and the
Fire Distribution Center (FDC).
AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel Radar
According to the U.S. Army, the Sentinel Radar (Figure 2)
can detect UAVs, cruise missiles, and fixed and rotary-wing
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National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS)
Figure 3. Surface-Launched AMRAAM
total NASAMS batteries to Ukraine through USAI. On
August 26, 2022, the U.S. Army awarded Raytheon
Missiles & Defense a $182 million contract for delivery of
two NASAMS batteries, including training and logistical
support to Ukrainian forces. On November 7, 2022, Reuters
reported that Ukraine had received its first NASAMS unit.
On November 30, 2022, the Army reportedly awarded
Raytheon Missiles and Defense a $1.2 billion contract to
provide six NASAMS batteries to Ukraine. The Army
reportedly “will work with industry partners to shorten the
24-month production lead time associated with production
and delivery of NASAMS.”
Potential Oversight Issues for Congress
Source: Raytheon Missile & Defense website.
As Congress continues to monitor the conflict in Ukraine
and considers additional military assistance for Ukraine,
Kongsberg’s Fire Distribution Center (FDC)
some potential oversight issues include the following:
According to Kongsberg, its FDC (Figure 4) is a proven
and fielded air defense and surface-to-surface missile
 Russian air attacks against Ukrainian cities, military and
(SSM) command and control module. Kongsberg claims its
civilian facilities, and military units have employed
FDC is fully interoperable with national, EU, and NATO
UAVs, cruise missiles, and fixed and rotary-wing
forces.
aircraft, as well as a variety of ballistic missiles. While it
is not explicitly stated by the U.S. government or
Figure 4. NASAMS FDC
developers, does NASAMS have any capability to
detect, intercept, and destroy ballistic missiles? If not,
are there plans for the United States and/or NATO
nations to provide Ukraine with a ballistic missile
defense capability or system?
 How long will it take to supply all eight NASAMS
batteries to Ukraine and train operators and maintenance
personnel?
 Given increased Russian air and missile attacks against
Ukraine, are the eight NASAMS batteries pledged by

the United States adequate to defend Ukrainian
Source: Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace website.
interests? If not, how many NASAMS batteries are
NASAMS Use
needed? Does the United States have the ability to
provide these systems without undue risk to U.S.
According to Raytheon, NASAMS is owned by 12
national security?
countries and has been integrated into the U.S. National
Capital Region’s air defense system since 2005. In addition
 Is NASAMS fully interoperable with other non-
to the United States, Norway, Finland, Spain, the
NATO/EU air and missile defense systems being used
Netherlands, Oman, Lithuania, Indonesia, Australia, Qatar,
by or supplied to Ukraine? If not, could this result in
Hungary, and one undisclosed country employ NASAMS
gaps in protection that might be exploited by the
for homeland defense and defense of other critical assets.
Russians?
According to Kongsberg, NASAMS’s radar and launcher
elements can be deployed over a large area separated by
 Does the Biden Administration have a long-term
more than 20 kilometers (about 12.5 miles) from the FDC,
sustainment plan for NASAMS? Are there estimates as
providing extended area coverage. Another benefit is that
to how much sustainment might cost? What authorities
dispersing NASAMS elements can potentially increase
does the Administration plan to use for long-term
survivability against enemy air and ground attacks.
NASAMS sustainment?
NASAMS Provided to Ukraine
Additional Information
On July 1, 2022, DOD announced it would provide two
CRS In Focus IF12040, U.S. Security Assistance to
NASAMS batteries to Ukraine through DOD’s Ukraine
Ukraine, by Christina L. Arabia, Andrew S. Bowen, and
Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Defense items
Cory Welt.
provided under USAI require congressional notification at
least 15 days prior to transfer unless the Secretary of
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
Defense determines extraordinary circumstances exist that
impact U.S. national security. On August 24, 2022, the
IF12230
Biden Administration announced it would provide eight

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National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS)

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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12230 · VERSION 2 · UPDATED