The Royal Netherlands Army is poised to significantly enhance its short-range air defence (SHORAD) capabilities with the acquisition of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) and the National Manoeuvre Air Defence System (NOMADS) from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. This acquisition, valued at approximately $1 billion, is expected to commence deliveries in 2028 as part of the comprehensive integrated air and missile defence program known as CITADEL.
Photo: KONGSBERG
This move underscores the growing importance of mobile, ground-based air defence in modern warfare. The Netherlands first acquired the NASAMS system in 2006. The new acquisitions will improve and expand the country’s ground-based air defence capabilities. NOMADS, a relatively new system that Kongsberg developed in collaboration with the Norwegian Armed Forces, is designed specifically to protect manoeuvring army units near the frontline from increasingly complex aerial threats.
The system’s high mobility, manoeuvrability, firepower and level of protection meet the standards for mechanised units, which NOMADS is designed to provide air defence coverage for. The heart of the system is a SHORAD module mounted on an armoured mechanised vehicle with high off-road mobility. This module integrates key command and control functions and applications from the medium-range NASAMS system. It also includes a passive seeker missile and an AESA radar. This enables autonomous air defence operations with NOMADS both day and night.
In addition to its armour, NOMADS is equipped with a Remote Weapon Station (RWS) for self-protection. Crucially, the system is vehicle agnostic, meaning it can be integrated onto a variety of platforms. “NOMADS can defend against small, short-range targets as drones and cruise missiles, providing unique protection against threats like those currently seen in Ukraine,” said Kjetil Reiten Myhra, Executive Vice President Defence Systems at Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. “Its configuration is designed for rapid movement over rough terrain and with unprecedented into-action-time”.
The NOMADS units tested and delivered to the end user in Norway have received excellent feedback. The advanced and easy-to-operate command and control system can prioritise threats and launch multiple missiles at different targets simultaneously. Furthermore, NOMADS is optimised for maximum battlefield efficiency, typically networked and integrated into NATO Integrated Air & Missile Defence (IAMD). The system can be easily adapted to any NATO-compatible ground-based air defence (GBAD) mission or unit.
“The Netherlands’ plans to acquire NOMADS and new NASAMS systems will significantly enhance the country’s operational capabilities,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. “This forthcoming acquisition underscores NASAMS position as the world leading medium range air defence system, and the importance of NOMADS as an effective complement to NASAMS, offering a mobile and integrated air defence solution for NATO allies”.
The final contract is expected to be signed later this year.
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