Ukrainian forces set new interception record with NASAMS
By using the NASAMS system, Ukrainian air forces intercepted 11 Russian cruise missiles in just two minutes. Ukrainian military officials claim that no one has accomplished such a feat before.
"In one battle, we shot down 11 cruise missiles. The operation lasted no more than two minutes. We probably broke all records held by other countries, and we are ready to do this continuously to defend our territory as long as we have missiles," said the commander of the unit operating the NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System), as quoted by Ukrainian media.
One of the most effective anti-aircraft systems in Ukraine
According to the Ukrainians, the operation during which this impressive feat was accomplished took place on April 27. NASAMS is a weapon developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in collaboration with American RTX (formerly Raytheon). It is a short- to medium-range air defense system that was first delivered to Ukraine in the fall of 2022. A complete unit consists of a command center, radar, and launchers, each equipped with six AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.
NASAMS is designed to intercept various targets, including aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles. It is considered one of the most effective weapons of its kind. Only one Ukrainian unit (the one boasting the current record) has managed to destroy more than 150 Russian aerial targets, mainly cruise missiles.
a means against Russian cruise missiles, but not ballistic ones
The Ukrainians also pointed out that NASAMS is not capable of intercepting ballistic missiles because the radar of this system cannot track such targets, and the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile is not designed to combat them. They counter Russian disinformation by emphasizing that Ukrainian air defense operations do not cause civilian casualties or infrastructure damage. If the AIM-120 AMRAAM misses the target, it self-destructs in the air. It also lacks the destructive power of Russian ballistic missiles (which are handled by the Patriot systems in Ukraine).
According to information provided at the beginning of the year by the Norwegian air force, NASAMS achieves an interception effectiveness rate of about 94 percent in Ukraine, and the majority of targets shot down so far have been cruise missiles from the Kh-101, Kalibr, Iskander, Kh-59, and Kh-69 families.
The effectiveness of the NASAMS system is further confirmed by the fact that it is used for the protection of locations such as the White House and key NATO infrastructure, including the Rzeszów-Jasionka airport. The Norwegians sent this weapon as part of support to enhance the protection of the logistics hub through which the vast majority of Western aid to Ukraine passes.
