The government of the Netherlands has announced plans to acquire NASAMS and NOMADS air defense systems from Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (‘KONGSBERG’) in a deal expected to be valued at approximately NOK 11 billion.
The Dutch government (MoD) filed a recommendation to Parliament, outlining its intention to acquire the new systems as part of the CITADEL program, a comprehensive integrated air and missile defense program.
Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace: “The Netherlands’ plans to acquire NOMADS and new NASAMS systems will significantly enhance the country’s operational capabilities. This forthcoming acquisition underscores NASAMS position as the world leading medium range air defense system, and the importance of NOMADS as an effective complement to NASAMS, offering a mobile and integrated air defense solution for NATO allies.”
The Netherlands first acquired the NASAMS system in 2006. The new acquisitions will improve and expand the country’s ground-based air defense capabilities. NASAMS can employ a mix of missiles in addition to the AMRAAM. The AMRAAM- Extended Range and AIM-9X Sidewinder offers both longer- and shorter-range capability.
In addition to NASAMS, the CITADEL solution also includes the National Maneuver Air Defense System, NOMADS – a highly mobile air defense configuration with short range missiles tailored to protection of land forces in a dynamic and contested land warfare environment.
NOMADS features two launch canisters, each containing two missiles, a 3D radar and a KONGSBERG PROTECTOR remote weapon station. NOMADS is fully integrated with NASAMS and other NATO systems, enabling autonomous and networked operations with multiple vehicles.
KONGSBERG will cooperate with Dutch industry and the weapon system deliveries will commence in 2028.
The company will not make any further statements before the contract is signed, which is expected to take place later in 2024.