As the war between Ukraine and Russia enters into its sixth month, the U.S. Army is still finding new ways to help its eastern European ally, and as of last week, that support took the form of a $182 million contract with Raytheon Missiles & Defense.
The company, formed through a combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation in 2020, was tapped to supply the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, as a mid-range air defense solution for Ukraine. According to Raytheon, these systems are expected to be used by Ukraine to better defend against air threats from Russia.
“Raytheon Missiles & Defense and our partners are working diligently to quickly deliver this critical, proven air defense capability to help the Ukrainian people defend their homeland,” Tom Laliberty, president of land warfare & air defense, a Raytheon Missiles & Defense business area, said. “Ukraine will join a dozen nations around the globe who rely on NASAMS to defeat a multitude of threats, including cruise missiles, aircraft, and unmanned systems.”
NASAMS is a multi-piece system, including Sentinel radar, advanced medium range air-to-air missile, and the KDA Fire Distribution Center. It was developed and produced through a collaboration between Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Norway’s Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace. The developments tout the system’s capability to identify, engage and destroy enemy aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), and cruise missile threats.