https://crsreports.congress.gov
Updated December 1, 2022
National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS)
Background
As part of past U.S. arms and equipment transfers to
Ukraine, the only dedicated air defense system provided has
been the FIM-92 Stinger man-portable, disposable, short-
range air defense system. The Biden Administration has
announced plans to provide the National Advanced
Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to Ukraine to
protect against certain Russian air threats. NASAMS
increases not only the range at which air threats can be
engaged, but also the range at which air threats can be
detected and tracked. NASAMS is a reloadable system and
provides a capability to engage multiple targets, whereas
the Stinger can engage only a single target.
What Is the National Advanced Surface-
to-Air Missile System (NASAMS)?
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: Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace website.
Militaries can deploy NASAMS to identify, engage, and
destroy fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, cruise missiles, and
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is designed to protect
high-value assets and population centers against air-to-
surface threats. According to the Missile Defense Advocacy
Alliance, a nonpartisan, nonprofit missile defense education
organization:
NASAMS reached operational capability in 1994
and was first deployed by the Royal Norwegian Air
Force. The system can engage 72 targets
simultaneously in active and passive modes and,
using active seeker missiles, can intercept targets
beyond visual range. The NASAMS is armed with
three launchers, each carrying up to six missiles.
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
aircraft. It features an X-Band, 360-degree phased array air
defense radar with a 75-kilometer (approximately 47-mile)
range to identify targets. Sentinel is equipped with an
electronic counter-counter-measure (ECCM) system that
includes two subsystems—an identification friend or foe
(IFF) subsystem for positive identification of friendly
aircraft, and a noncooperative target recognition capabilities
subsystem to identify enemy aircraft. Sentinel is trailer-
mounted and pulled by either a High Mobility Multipurpose
Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) or an M1082 Family of
Medium Tactical Vehicles truck. The United States has
already provided Ukraine a number of Sentinel radars and
tactical vehicles, so Ukrainian forces should be familiar
with these systems.
Figure 2. AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel Radar
Source: Raytheon Missiles & Defense website.
AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air
Missile (AMRAAM)
According to Raytheon, the AMRAAM (Figure 3) is a
dual-role missile that offers operational flexibility in air-to-
air and surface-launch engagements. In the air-to-air mode,
AMRAAM’s advanced active guidance sensor and seeker
supposedly can rapidly acquire targets in challenging
environments. In the surface-launch mode, NASAMS
permits countries to use the same missile in either role with
no modifications. Reportedly, AMRAAMs employed by
NASAMS have a 40-kilometer (approximately 25-mile)
range, and longer-range missiles are currently under
development. AMRAAMs are subject to the Department of
Defense’s (DOD’s) Enhanced End-Use Monitoring
(EEUM), which is used to verify that defense articles
transferred by the United States to foreign recipients are
procured in accordance with transfer agreements and used
only for their intended purposes.
