Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has been contracted by the Netherlands to deliver NASAMS and NOMADS air defence systems.
The 12-billion Norwegian krone ($1.09 billion) procurement is part of the CITADEL program, a comprehensive integrated air and missile defense program.
The country first acquired the NASAMS (National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System) in 2006 and will be the first international customer of the NOMADS (National Maneuver Air Defence System), which was unveiled earlier in June.
Delivery is expected to commence from 2028.
“By selecting NASAMS and NOMADS the Netherlands will enhance its air defence capabilities with an integrated system that covers short- and medium-range threats,” President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Eirik Lie said.
“The Netherlands continues to be a strong and integral member of the larger NASAMS user community, and we are pleased to welcome the country as the first international NOMADS user.”
Air Defense Systems
The NASAMS employs a mix of AMRAAM, AMRAAM-Extended Range, and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles as effectors to provide ground-based, medium-range air defense against cruise missiles, drones, and aircraft.
The NOMADS, meanwhile, is a mobile, short-range air defense system for maneuvering army units.
It has been developed leveraging lessons from the Ukraine war, focusing on drones, cruise missiles, and fixed and rotating-wing aircraft.
Defense Spending Spree
The contract was signed a month after the Dutch Ministry of Defense recommended to Parliament the procurement of a range of defense platforms, including the two Kongsberg systems.
Also recommended were 46 Leopard 2 A8 battle tanks for 1 to 2.5 billion euros ($1.2 billion to $2.7 billion).
The recommendations stem from a ministry of defense White Paper that called for massive investment in defense capabilities to deter potential Russian aggression.