Kongsberg has signed a contract to supply the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to Belgium, expanding the country’s ground-based air defense capabilities.
The Dutch Armed Forces procured the equipment on Belgium’s behalf under a deal worth 10 billion Norwegian krone ($1.04 billion).
NASAMS is a networked air defense system developed by Kongsberg and Raytheon. It combines command and control, radars, sensors, and missile launchers to detect and engage aerial threats.
The system can use several interceptors, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM, AMRAAM Extended Range, and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. Its open architecture also allows new sensors, weapons, and other technologies to be integrated as threats and operational requirements change.
Belgium announced plans in July to acquire 10 NASAMS systems through a cooperation agreement with the Netherlands. The new contract completes the procurement and makes Belgium the latest country to join the NASAMS user community.
Belgium Rebuilds Ground-Based Air Defense
Belgium has been working to restore and expand a ground-based air defense capability.
Its defense plans target a layered surface-based air and missile defense network covering different threat ranges. NASAMS will form part of that effort alongside shorter-range systems and longer-range capabilities planned by the Belgian military.
“With the acquisition of NASAMS, Belgium will gain solid national air defense coverage and at the same time contribute to increased European security,” Kongsberg CEO Eirik Lie said.
The country has also been increasing defense spending as part of a broader modernization program. Belgium’s Strategic Defense Plan 2025 calls for major investments in air and missile defense, along with combat aircraft, naval platforms, land systems, and ammunition.
These efforts gained urgency as European militaries reassess their ability to defend against drones, cruise missiles, aircraft, and other aerial threats. The war in Ukraine has also highlighted the demand for layered systems that can combine different sensors and interceptors across a network.