NASAMS uses AIM-120 AMRAAM
NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, also known as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) is a distributed and networked short- to medium-range: 4  ground-based air defense system developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) and Raytheon. The system defends against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), and fixed wing aircraft,: 11  firing any of a wide range of existing missiles.
NASAMS was the first application of a surface-launched AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile). NASAMS 2 is an upgraded version of the system capable of using Link 16, which has been operational since 2007. As of 2022, NASAMS 3 is the latest upgrade. Deployed in 2019, it adds capability to fire AIM-9X Sidewinder, IRIS-T SLS and AMRAAM-ER missiles, and introduces mobile air-liftable launchers. NASAMS has proven interoperability with longer range systems such as Patriot.Development
Development of NASAMS began in the 1980s when Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) teamed up with Hughes Missile Systems and Hughes Aircraft Ground Systems Group and initiated the program as a cooperative effort for the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF). As originally envisioned, NASAMS would replace two Nike Hercules facilities in defending Norway's southern air bases, where it would act in conjunction with F-16s in providing a layered defense.The integrated air defense battle management command and control system, based on KS500F computers and the KMC9000 control console with two color CRT displays, was first developed for the Norwegian Adapted Hawk (NOAH) program, an upgrade to the MIM-23B Improved Hawk semi-active radar head, surface-to-air missile system. This command and control system integrated existing AN/MPQ-46 High Power Illuminator Doppler Radar (HPIR) with AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar, modified into a three-dimensional low-altitude airspace surveillance radar with the TPQ-36A software upgrade.
The upgraded NOAH would still engage only one target per launcher pad, which was insufficient to counter the emerging threat of massive firing of cruise missiles. RNoAF ordered further development of a distributed, network-centric air defense system with multiple launchers and radars.
The MIM-23B missile was replaced with the active radar homing AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, which also uses an inertial navigation system during initial approach. The TPQ-36A radar was upgraded to the rotating AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel configuration. Test launches were performed in June 1993. The system had an initial operational capability in late 1994 – early 1995. It was fully operationally fielded in 1998.An enhanced NASAMS 2 was developed in the 2000s and became operational in 2006. A third generation, NASAMS 3, was developed in the 2010s and fielded in 2019.NASAMS 3
In April 2019, RNoAF fielded the upgraded NASAMS 3 system. In May 2019, the first live firing tests were conducted.NASAMS 3 comes with an updated Fire Distribution Center station, an "ADX" console that has ergonomic control surfaces and three 30" flat-panel displays. The redesigned Mk 2 canister launcher can fire AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II short-range missiles and AMRAAM-ER missiles from its launching rails, in addition to AIM-120 AMRAAM. AMRAAM-ER is an extended range upgrade, based upon an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile rocket motor, paired with a two-stage AMRAAM guidance head, expanding its engagement envelope, with a 50 percent increase in maximum range and 70 percent increase in maximum altitude, giving a maximum range of about 50 km. The extended range missile will have greater ability to take down fast flying and hard-maneuvering targets. In May 2019, the AIM-9X Block II was test fired from NASAMS launchers at the Andøya Space Center in Norway.A new short-range 'Mobile Ground Based Air Defense System' configuration had been developed for initial deployment with Brigade Nord of the Norwegian Army. Each battery includes six mobile IRIS-T SLS missile launchers mounted on tracked vehicles and three M1152A1 HMMWV-based High Mobility Launcher (HML) for the AIM-120 AMRAAM, which were originally developed for the U.S. Army SLAMRAAM project. They can be air-lifted by C-130 Hercules or C-17 Globemaster.The High Mobility Launcher is capable of launching both AIM-120 and AIM-9X from its four launching rails, and can be equipped with two additional rails. IRIS-T launchers and support vehicles will be based on the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) and upgraded M113 (M577A2) command vehicles. They will be equipped with XENTA-M X-band radars designed by Weibel Scientific.In June 2019, Australia ordered a locally made version of NASAMS 3, with CEA tactical (CEATAC) and towed CEA operational (CEAOPS) AESA radars, High Mobility Launchers and radar carried on Hawkei PMV vehicles instead of HMMWV, and Fire Distribution Center shelters produced at the Raytheon Australia's facility at Mawson Lakes. The system includes Raytheon AN/AAS-52 Multispectral Targeting System (MTS)-A, an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) guidance system with a high resolution day/night imaging sensor, and integrated laser rangefinder. The ADF plans to spend A$2.5 billion on its NASAMS-based air-defence network.In October 2021, Raytheon announced that the NASAMS 3 will be upgraded with GhostEye MR, a new medium-range S-band AESA radar based on GhostEye (formerly LTAMDS) technology developed for the MIM-104 Patriot system. In March 2022, Raytheon demonstrated that the High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) can be paired with NASAMS to destroy a swarm of drone targets.Future operators
Australia – Contract for NASAMS-3 signed in March 2017, valued at A$2.5 billion. The system will be locally-assembled by Raytheon Australia and will replace RBS-70 systems in service. Australia received its first launchers in 2022.
 Hungary – Ordered in November 2020 in a $1b contract, with 60 pieces of AMRAAM C7/C8 missiles valued at $230M. Planned delivery in 2023.
 Kuwait: Requested to buy 63 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM); 63 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles; 12 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems – Low Volume Terminal (MIDS LVT) Block Upgrade 2; and 12 MIDS LVT Cryptographic Modules. Approved by US State Department as Foreign Military Sale in October 2022.
 Taiwan – The US government agreed to let Taiwan buy NASAMS air defense missile systems, during the annual Monterey Talks security meeting between both sides in Annapolis in June 2022. Taiwan will be allowed to buy the latest variant of NASAMS, which can fire AIM-9X, AMRAAM, and AMRAAM-ER missiles. Taiwan decided to purchase "more than four" NASAMS systems, following the US approval. The purchase will not be carried out until 2024, due to the demand on production capabilities for Ukraine.
 Qatar – Ordered in July 2019. Qatar is the first country to procure AMRAAM-ER, the surface-to-air extended-range variant.