Kongsberg has been awarded a contract to modernise the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s (RnoAF) National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS).
Under the terms of NOK168m ($20.7m) contract, the company will supply and integrate communications equipment into the NASAMS air defence system.
The equipment includes systems that enable secure internet protocol (IP) communications between all elements in NASAMS, are currently in use with international customers, and have demonstrated high performance and stability.
Kongsberg Defence Systems executive vice-president Eirik Lie said: "We are pleased that the Norwegian Armed Forces execute these upgrades making NASAMS the most modern and advanced air defence system in the world."
NASAMS is jointly manufactured by Raytheon and Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace. It is a distributed and networked medium-to-long range air defence system designed to defend high-value civilian and military assets on the ground against air threats.
AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile as primary weapon augments the soldier’s ability to identify, engage and destroy existing and evolving enemy aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missile threats.
The system features network-centric, open architecture that provides increased survivability against electronic countermeasures, and can engage 72 targets simultaneously in active and passive modes. It is claimed to serve as the backbone of Norwegian Air Defence for many years to come.
AIM-120 is also operational with the Dutch and the Spanish armies, as well as the US National Capital Region.
The contract will include several subcontractors. Deliveries under the contract are scheduled to take place over the next two years.
Image: NASAMS enables soldiers to identify, engage and destroy enemy aircraft, UAVs or emerging cruise missile threats. Photo: courtesy of copyright ©2014 Kongsberg Gruppen.
