Ukraine receives U.S. air defence system

NASAMS, an advanced surface-to-air missile system, will help Ukraine to defend big cities from Russian missile strikes


NASAMS: Developed by Raytheon in cooperation with Norway’s Kongsberg Defence

1 DETECTION 
MPQ-64F1 Sentinel 
Active 3D radar searches sky for aircraft or missile threats

Vehicle with passive electro-optic and infrared sensor

2 ENGAGEMENT 
Fire distribution centre (FDC) 
Weapons control computer determines intercept point and relays data to launcher

3 LAUNCH
Mobile launcher 
Fires missile towards intercept point.
Can fire six missiles against six different targets in seconds

Launcher can be remotely controlled up to 25km away from FDC

4 FLIGHT 
Missile tracked by radar and guided with help from FDC and its own homing sensors

5 IMPACT 
Once missile closes to self-homing distance, radar seeker locks on target for collision


AIM-120 AMRAAM
Length 		3.7m
Diameter 	18cm
Warhead 	22.7kg
Speed		Mach 4
Range 		30km*
Altitude	21km


*Effective range for ground-launched missile


Picture: Kongsberg
Sources: Raytheon, Kongsberg
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