The relocation of the NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system, developed by Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace in collaboration with Raytheon Technologies, to Ukraine marks a significant step in Ukraine’s shift from Russian S-300 systems to Western air defense capabilities.
Operating Russian air defense weapons in Ukrainian units is becoming increasingly challenging. Stocks of guided missiles are depleting, and Ukraine lacks domestic production. Spare parts and tools are also running low, narrowing the resilience of older Soviet-era defenses.
What is being deployed is not outdated gear widely rumored to be obsolete. The NASAMS platforms in service today are among the latest configurations, reflecting their high potential and contemporary relevance on the battlefield.
NASAMS is already trusted to protect high-security areas in the United States, including airspace over the White House and the Pentagon. This underscores broad confidence from U.S. military personnel and policymakers. Other prospective buyers or operators include Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Lithuania, with Hungary and India recently joining the cohort of NASAMS users.
The system offers solid performance. Its engagement envelope reaches about 40 kilometers in the upper range, with a lower limit near 0.03 kilometers and a ceiling of approximately 16 kilometers. The probability of intercept for a given shot hovers around 0.85, and the system can transition from combat to march readiness in roughly three minutes.
The United States and other NATO members are closely following similar Western alternatives. Notably, Spain’s defense ministry has completed the delivery of a NASAMS-based battery to Kyiv, replacing older assets with a more capable air defense solution. The Italian-Swiss Skyguard Aspide system, currently in play, has a documented firing range of up to 20–25 kilometers and reaches to about 8 kilometers in altitude, with the missile division historically overseen by Selenia and later integrated into MBDA through Italy’s defense sector restructuring.
Recent remarks in the Spanish press about the feasibility of transferring Patriot systems to Ukraine have attracted attention. While such discussions reflect political considerations, they do not provide a definitive assessment of operational deployment requirements. Patriot deployment does require highly skilled personnel and sustained logistical support, a reality that must be weighed alongside any similar operations involving NASAMS or other Western systems.
Overall assessments about the transferability of certain weapon systems should be treated with restraint. Eschewing long-term forecasts based on uncertain assumptions is prudent. The German experience offers a relevant reference: Berlin shifted its policy on arms deliveries to Ukraine in a relatively short period, moving from limited, non-lethal aid to a broader array of capabilities, including self-propelled howitzers, unmanned aerial vehicles, armored vehicles, and air defense systems. The question of Patriot deployments to Ukraine, including potential gains in air defense coverage with extended range and altitude, remains a topic of active debate and policy consideration among NATO partners and allied governments.