Why Ukrainian NASAMS Are Driving Russia Nuts

Continental US North American Aerospace Defense Command Region (CONR) and the South Carolina National Guard’s 263rd Army Air Missile Defense Command (263rd AAMDC) gathered at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. to validate homeland defense capabilities utilizing the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) in a live-fire test on September 26, 2023. Public domain

In a masterclass in modern air defense, Norway’s NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) has been turning Russian missiles into expensive fireworks over Ukraine.

With an astounding 94% kill rate, the Norwegian-American system has swatted down nearly 900 Russian aerial threats, effectively making the Kremlin’s missile budget a donation to Ukraine’s defense.

Norwegian Air Force Colonel Per Steinar Trøite confirmed the system’s efficiency in an interview with Aftenposten, stating that NASAMS has been a champ in shielding Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.

Since November 2022, about 60% of intercepted threats have been Russian cruise missiles, including the Kh-101, Kh-555, Kalibr, Iskander-K, Kh-59, and Kh-69 — because apparently, Russia believes variety is the spice of life.

Russia has been forced to shift tactics, relying more on drones and long-range missiles since its aircraft can no longer operate freely over Ukrainian airspace.

The days of Russian warplanes casually bombing targets without fear of retaliation are long gone, thanks in large part to NASAMS and other Western air defense systems. Even during high-profile events, such as the February 24 visit of Western leaders to Kyiv marking the third year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, NASAMS was…