An Omani NASAMS launches an AMRAAM during a test. (Omani Ministry of Defence)

The US Department of State has approved a Kuwaiti request for a National Advanced Surface-to-air Missile System (NASAMS) package estimated to be worth USD3 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 6 October.

Developed by Raytheon and Norway's Kongsberg, the NASAMS uses the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) as surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), making it an attractive option for militaries that already have these missiles. The new AMRAAM-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER) missile provides a longer-range option but is only available as a SAM.

A NASAMS fire unit consists of at least one launcher, a fire distribution centre (FCU), a towed AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, and an optional vehicle-mounted electro-optical target detection and tracking system.

The DSCA said the Kuwaiti request was for seven Sentinel radars, 63 Sidewinders, 63 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs, 63 AMRAAM-ERs, an unspecified number of FCUs, a simulator, and all the required support.

It also includes 12 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs) with radios and cryptographic modules so the NASAMS can be integrated into a network using the Link 16 tactical datalink.

An Omani NASAMS launches an AMRAAM during a test. (Omani Ministry of Defence)

The US Department of State has approved a Kuwaiti request for a National Advanced Surface-to-air Missile System (NASAMS) package estimated to be worth USD3 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 6 October.

Developed by Raytheon and Norway's Kongsberg, the NASAMS uses the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) as surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), making it an attractive option for militaries that already have these missiles. The new AMRAAM-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER) missile provides a longer-range option but is only available as a SAM.

A NASAMS fire unit consists of at least one launcher, a fire distribution centre (FCU), a towed AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, and an optional vehicle-mounted electro-optical target detection and tracking system.

The DSCA said the Kuwaiti request was for seven Sentinel radars, 63 Sidewinders, 63 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs, 63 AMRAAM-ERs, an unspecified number of FCUs, a simulator, and all the required support.

It also includes 12 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs) with radios and cryptographic modules so the NASAMS can be integrated into a network using the Link 16 tactical datalink.

An Omani NASAMS launches an AMRAAM during a test. (Omani Ministry of Defence)

The US Department of State has approved a Kuwaiti request for a National Advanced Surface-to-air Missile System (NASAMS) package estimated to be worth USD3 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 6 October.

Developed by Raytheon and Norway's Kongsberg, the NASAMS uses the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) as surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), making it an attractive option for militaries that already have these missiles. The new AMRAAM-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER) missile provides a longer-range option but is only available as a SAM.

A NASAMS fire unit consists of at least one launcher, a fire distribution centre (FCU), a towed AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, and an optional vehicle-mounted electro-optical target detection and tracking system.

The DSCA said the Kuwaiti request was for seven Sentinel radars, 63 Sidewinders, 63 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs, 63 AMRAAM-ERs, an unspecified number of FCUs, a simulator, and all the required support.

It also includes 12 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs) with radios and cryptographic modules so the NASAMS can be integrated into a network using the Link 16 tactical datalink.

An Omani NASAMS launches an AMRAAM during a test. (Omani Ministry of Defence)

The US Department of State has approved a Kuwaiti request for a National Advanced Surface-to-air Missile System (NASAMS) package estimated to be worth USD3 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 6 October.

Developed by Raytheon and Norway's Kongsberg, the NASAMS uses the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) as surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), making it an attractive option for militaries that already have these missiles. The new AMRAAM-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER) missile provides a longer-range option but is only available as a SAM.

A NASAMS fire unit consists of at least one launcher, a fire distribution centre (FCU), a towed AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, and an optional vehicle-mounted electro-optical target detection and tracking system.

The DSCA said the Kuwaiti request was for seven Sentinel radars, 63 Sidewinders, 63 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs, 63 AMRAAM-ERs, an unspecified number of FCUs, a simulator, and all the required support.

It also includes 12 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs) with radios and cryptographic modules so the NASAMS can be integrated into a network using the Link 16 tactical datalink.

An Omani NASAMS launches an AMRAAM during a test. (Omani Ministry of Defence)

The US Department of State has approved a Kuwaiti request for a National Advanced Surface-to-air Missile System (NASAMS) package estimated to be worth USD3 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 6 October.

Developed by Raytheon and Norway's Kongsberg, the NASAMS uses the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) as surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), making it an attractive option for militaries that already have these missiles. The new AMRAAM-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER) missile provides a longer-range option but is only available as a SAM.

A NASAMS fire unit consists of at least one launcher, a fire distribution centre (FCU), a towed AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, and an optional vehicle-mounted electro-optical target detection and tracking system.

The DSCA said the Kuwaiti request was for seven Sentinel radars, 63 Sidewinders, 63 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs, 63 AMRAAM-ERs, an unspecified number of FCUs, a simulator, and all the required support.

It also includes 12 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs) with radios and cryptographic modules so the NASAMS can be integrated into a network using the Link 16 tactical datalink.

An Omani NASAMS launches an AMRAAM during a test. (Omani Ministry of Defence)

The US Department of State has approved a Kuwaiti request for a National Advanced Surface-to-air Missile System (NASAMS) package estimated to be worth USD3 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 6 October.

Developed by Raytheon and Norway's Kongsberg, the NASAMS uses the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) as surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), making it an attractive option for militaries that already have these missiles. The new AMRAAM-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER) missile provides a longer-range option but is only available as a SAM.

A NASAMS fire unit consists of at least one launcher, a fire distribution centre (FCU), a towed AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, and an optional vehicle-mounted electro-optical target detection and tracking system.

The DSCA said the Kuwaiti request was for seven Sentinel radars, 63 Sidewinders, 63 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs, 63 AMRAAM-ERs, an unspecified number of FCUs, a simulator, and all the required support.

It also includes 12 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs) with radios and cryptographic modules so the NASAMS can be integrated into a network using the Link 16 tactical datalink.