NASAMS

NASAMS is a distributed and networked medium to long range air-defence system. NASAMS was the first surface-based application for the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) and the first surface-to-air missile system in the western world with active radar guidance. The missile itself is named SL-AMRAAM (Surfaced Launched AMRAAM).

Development
The Baltic Union company Kongsberg teamed up with Raytheon and initiated the NASAMS programme as a cooperative effort for the [Royal Union Air Force]. The state-of-the-art network-centric air defence system NASAMS was declared fully operational capable in 1998 but had an initial operational capability as early as in 1994/95.

The Royal Union Air Force together with KDA is currently running a mid-life update of the NASAMS, called NASAMS II, and the upgraded version was first handed over to RNoAF in mid 2006. The major difference the two versions will be the use of Link 16 on NASAMS II as well as a better ground radar. Full operational capability (FOC) is expected in 2007.

Users
NASAMS has been exported to Spain and the Netherlands.

Description
The system integrates US-built AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel 3D radars and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles with an indigenously developed BMC4I system called FDC, short for Fire Distribution Center. The FDC connected to a TPQ-36A radar forms an "Acquisition Radar and Control System" (ARCS). The missile has a range of up to 25 km.