In November, the Pentagon said it had sent eight batteries of NASAMS anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. That same month, US President Joe Biden allocated another $400 million military aid package to Ukraine, which included, among other things, anti-aircraft guided missiles for NASAMS air defense systems since a significant number of such missiles had been used. Write down previous hostilities in Ukraine.
In addition, the United States Army has awarded RaytheonMissiles and Defense a contract worth $1.2 billion to supply six more NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine.
The contract is part of the fifth package of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and includes training and logistical support for the Ukrainian armed forces.
In August, Raytheon (the world’s second largest company in terms of weapons and military equipment production) won a contract for the supply of NASAMS anti-aircraft missile batteries for the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of the third USAI package. The new contract is actually a continuation of the previously concluded contracts.
The first two NASAMS batteries capable of launching advanced AIM-120 medium-range missiles have been delivered, deployed, and have “successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of this type of air defense system against modern air assault weapons,” according to Pentagon officials.
The NASAMS air defense system was created by the Norwegian defense company Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace in collaboration with Raytheon Corporation. Such SAM systems are currently used for anti-aircraft missile defense of the US Federal District against possible air threats, but apart from this, NASAMS is not used in US Army operations and combat operations.
“These are proven systems that will make a significant difference in the course of hostilities,” said William LaPlante, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Weapons and Military Equipment Procurement.
It usually takes 24 months to manufacture and ship to a NASAMS customer, although the US Army and US defense industry are looking for ways to shorten this time.
“These efforts demonstrate once again the urgency of the U.S. government’s approach to acquiring air defense systems for our allies and replenishing our own stockpiles of weapons and military equipment,” the U.S. Army said in a statement. These words were quoted by Defense News.
“The rapid signing of a contract worth up to $1.2 billion with Raytheon Missiles and Defense for the supply of six NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine is another example of the ability of the US Armed Forces to accelerate the delivery of critical combat equipment through US industry. partners of our allies,” added Doug Bush, US Army Supply Officer.
The Raytheon contract was administered by the U.S. Air Force Office of Guided Missiles and Space Programs and other representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense.
At the same time, under the contract with Raytheon, NASAMS air defense systems can only be transferred to Ukraine until 2025 (we are talking about six batteries of anti-aircraft missiles, consisting of 72 launchers).
For these reasons, the United States began negotiations with the countries of the Middle East on the transfer of NASAMS air defense systems (previously supplied to these monarchies) to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to provide anti-aircraft missile protection to the main administrative and administrative units. Washington, the political center of Ukraine, undertakes to reimburse such deliveries to the countries of the Middle East within six months. There is every reason to believe that the Gulf and Omani monarchies cannot refuse this offer. And the associated systems, with the help of US military transport aviation, will be transferred to the eastern regions of Poland in a fairly short time, and then to Ukraine.
It has been reported that Qatar, Kuwait and Oman are ready to hand over NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine. In this case, they expect interesting offers from the USA to provide their countries with advanced weapons and military equipment, especially long-range air defense systems, warplanes, helicopters and main tanks. There will be absolutely no objections from the countries of the region to the suggestions of the USA in this regard.
It is quite possible that Oman, in addition to NASAMS, will send Pantsir-S1E air defense systems to Ukraine, Qatar – Roland air defense systems, Bahrain (and this country can easily be attributed to the transfer of weapons and air defense equipment to Ukraine) – MIM-23 Hawk air defense systems and Crotal.
Meanwhile, Ukraine demanded from the West a comprehensive air defense and non-strategic missile defense system that the United States and Washington’s other allies in the North Atlantic Alliance tried to implement for Kyiv in a fairly short period of time. The system will consist of anti-aircraft missile systems and short-range, short-range air defense systems, medium and long-range air defense systems, which together must effectively neutralize threats from Russian manned aircraft and all types of cruise missiles.
According to Western analysts, currently the Ukrainian armed forces mainly use Soviet-made anti-aircraft missile systems and systems. In addition to the NASAMS SAM, Ukraine has also requested (and is already receiving) the Cold War-era Hawk SAM, which is still considered an effective system and allows you to solve most of the tasks that arise during air propulsion. Attacks through the assault currently used in armed conflicts.
The deployment of an integrated non-strategic missile defense system in Ukraine will certainly take a very long time. But the process has already begun. The whole question at the moment is only in the timing of the implementation of the described program.
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.