“The government is prioritising strengthening our air defence. This agreement is an important step in ensuring increased response capacity and protection of Norwegian forces and critical infrastructure,” said Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik. The contract includes delivery of updated command posts, wheeled communication nodes, and new radio systems.
The NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) was first developed in the 1990s by KONGSBERG in cooperation with US-based Raytheon for the Norwegian Armed Forces. Today, 13 countries are part of the NASAMS user group, reflecting its international role in ground-based air defence.
“The NASAMS air defence system is strategically important for Norway’s defence capabilities and is vital for safeguarding our national security interests. This delivery will provide Norway with the latest generation of NASAMS, developed to meet current and future threats,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
The new systems will feature KONGSBERG’s THOR Combat Net Radio, replacing current MRR radios and offering increased functionality and capacity. “With this acquisition, we ensure that the NASAMS departments receive flexible and modern command posts and communication systems that provide faster decision support, higher tempo and increased survivability,” said Gro Jære, Director of the Defence Materiel Agency.
Improved mobility, greater capacity for dispersion, and faster repositioning of command units are all expected to raise the survivability of the air defence batteries. To enable future readiness, the Defence Materiel Agency has also ordered long-lead-time components, ensuring rapid delivery of additional NASAMS systems in line with Norway’s Long-Term Defence Plan.
