The Norwegian Defense Materials Agency has signed a new contract with Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (KDA) for the purchase of NASAMS air defense systems worth up to 4.8 billion Norwegian crowns (38 billion rubles), reported on 28 June the press service of the Norwegian government.
According to officials, the purchase will strengthen Norway’s defence against air attacks, replace materials transferred to Ukraine and facilitate future supplies.
“Air defence is important for the defence of both Norway and Ukraine. We are now increasing the volume and modernising the existing NASAMS system with modern equipment that can hit multiple targets. The current security policy landscape suggests that we need to accelerate the development of air defence and the modernisation of NASAMS. This agreement ensures rapid supply to the armed forces and helps to increase production capacity in the defence industry.”“said Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram.
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace is a leading Norwegian supplier of defence products and systems for command and control, surveillance, space, tactical communications, remote weapon stations and missile systems. It also has extensive capabilities in the manufacturing of advanced composite materials and in the maintenance and conversion of aircraft and helicopters.
The value of the deal is NOK 2.3 billion, plus a fixed price for additional air defense assets of NOK 2.5 billion.
The signed contract contains several clauses. This includes an order for additional NASAMS launchers and fire control centers worth approximately NOK 1.6 billion to store and reimburse materials transferred to Ukraine. Long-life NASAMS components worth approximately NOK 650 million have also been pre-ordered in preparation for future air defense procurement. The fixed-price option contract for additional air defense assets worth 2.5 billion Norwegian krone is valid until January 2025.
The contract is an important addition to the NASAMS and KDA Defense Supply Agreement entered into earlier this year. Assuming this option is implemented, Defense Materials will have contracts to supply NASAMS materials for four anti-aircraft batteries in just one year.
“Important steps are now being taken to protect national interests by providing the armed forces with access to more modern air defense capabilities as soon as possible. “This is partly due to the close and fruitful cooperation between us, Kongsberg and the defense sector as a whole.”says Director of Defense Materials, Gro Jaere.
By pre-ordering long-endurance NASAMS launcher components, you can quickly gain access to new and advanced air defense capabilities in the future. These components could be put into service from 2027.
Let us remember that the Long Term Defense Plan (LTP), adopted unanimously by Parliament, plans to double the number of anti-aircraft batteries in order to protect several places in the country from aerial threats at the same time.
The Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) is the core of the Norwegian Armed Forces’ ground-based air defence. The sole supplier is Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA).
The system consists of sensors, launchers and a control system (K2), which communicate via a network within the battery and, if necessary, with other batteries. The weapon system is modular and the battery typically consists of several major NASAMS components.
The system’s sensors and effectors make it a medium-range air defense capability, spanning the “short-range” (SR) and “medium-range” (MR) air layers, and is particularly suited to countering threats such as missiles. cruise and combat. aircraft.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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