What is NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System)?

About NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System)

• It is a medium-range ground-based air defense system.
• The NASAMS provides short- to medium-range air defense against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones.
• This air defense system is stationary. It is best suited to defend important stationary assets, such as key military assets, infrastructure, or cities.
• It was designed and developed jointly by Raytheon (United States) and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Norway).
• NASAMS is operated by 13 countries and has been integrated into the U.S. National Capital Region’s air defense system since 2005.
• In addition to the U.S., Norway, Finland, Spain, Netherlands, Oman, Lithuania, Indonesia, Australia, Qatar, Hungary, Ukraine, and one undisclosed country depend on NASAMS for homeland defense and the protection of critical assets.
• Features:
  • It is the world's first networked short- and medium-range air defense system that could integrate with other equipment and air defense systems.
  • It features an X-Band, 360-degree phased array air defense radar with a 75-kilometer range to identify targets.
  • The NASAMS is armed with three launchers, each carrying up to six missiles.
  • The system can engage 72 targets simultaneously in active and passive modes.
  • It uses AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, which have been modified for ground launch and have an engagement range of about 30 kilometers.
  • The NASAMS is fitted with a fire distribution centre (FDC) command-and-control unit to perform battle management command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence functions.

Q1) What is the French Crotale-NG AD system?

Crotale NG (Next Generation) is a modernized version of the Crotale short-range air defense missile system, which was originally developed by the French defense company Thomson-CSF, now known as Thales Group. The Crotale NG system is designed to protect military units, strategic sites, and civilian areas from a wide range of airborne threats, such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles.

Source: Russia Says NASAMS, French Crotale-NG AD Systems Destroyed Using Aircraft, UAVs, Missiles & Artillery