Belgium has signed a cooperation agreement with the Netherlands to purchase 10 National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, aiming to strengthen the country’s ground-based air defense capabilities.
Signed at the NATO Summit in Ankara, the agreement enables Brussels to acquire the systems through the Netherlands’ existing procurement framework. Contract negotiations with Kongsberg remain ongoing, the Norwegian company said.
“After twenty years without one, Belgium will rebuild its own powerful air defense capability with this joint purchase. This step is essential for the protection of our population and critical infrastructure,” Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said in a statement.
Francken previously disclosed that one of the 10 systems is intended for Luxembourg.
To Protect Critical Infrastructure
The short- to medium-range air defense system is intended to protect people and critical infrastructure from aerial threats such as drones and cruise missiles. At least one battery will be deployed to protect the Port of Antwerp, Prime Minister Bart De Wever said in March.
De Wever said the battery is expected to enter service in 2027, indicating the delivery timeline.
Although the value of the NASAMS procurement has not been officially disclosed, Belgian newspaper De Morgen reported it is expected to cost about 1.2 billion euros ($1.37 billion).
The purchase forms part of a broader 4-billion-euro ($4.6 billion) air-defense investment package that also includes plans to acquire a long-range air defense system.
About NASAMS
NASAMS is a ground-based, short- to medium-range air defense system that can be equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAM-series and AIM-9X Sidewinder interceptors armed with high-explosive blast-fragmentation warheads.
Each launcher can carry up to six missiles and engage fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and cruise missiles at ranges of up to 60 kilometers (37 miles).
The system combines a Raytheon AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel active 3D radar with passive electro-optical and infrared sensors, enabling it to detect and track aerial threats at ranges of approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) and engage targets at altitudes up to 21,000 meters (69,000 feet).
With Kuwait’s acquisition, NASAMS has now been selected or adopted by 18 countries, including Ukraine, Australia, Chile, Spain, and the US.
