Raytheon Technologies has delivered two Ukraine-bound National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) to the US government, Defense News revealed, citing CEO Greg Hayes.
Raytheon delivered the systems a couple of weeks ago, Hayes said on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street,” adding that they are being installed now.
The US government announced the first two air defense systems for Ukraine in July and six more in August.
Expedited Delivery
The development comes days after White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby revealed delivery of the systems had been expedited.
Kirby’s statement came after Russia attacked Ukrainian civilian and energy infrastructure targets with drone and missile barrages lasting several days, intensifying Kyiv’s demands for additional air defense systems.
More Systems on the Way
Meanwhile, more air defense systems have started to trickle into Ukraine, led by the German IRIS-T SLM. Washington plans to send an unknown quantity of Hawk air defense systems, which have been in storage since 2002.
Once procured, Ukrainian soldiers will undergo training to operate NASAMS, which are capable of intercepting a range of aerial targets such as fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles at a range of 30 to 50 kilometers (19 to 31 miles).