Ukraine's NASAMS unit sets record by downing 11 missiles in 2 minutes
By using the NASAMS system, Ukrainian air forces intercepted 11 Russian cruise missiles in just two minutes. Ukrainian military officials claim that such a feat has not been accomplished 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 achievement took place on 27th April. NASAMS is a weapon developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in collaboration with the American company RTX (formerly Raytheon). It is a short- to medium-range air defence system that was first delivered to Ukraine in the autumn of 2022. A complete unit consists of a command centre, 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 regarded as 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 remind us 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 refute Russian disinformation by emphasizing that Ukrainian air defence operations do not cause civilian casualties or infrastructure damage. If the AIM-120 AMRAAM misses its target, it self-destructs in the air. It also does not have the destructive power of Russian ballistic missiles (which are dealt with 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 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.
