For several months now, Spain has deployed a NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) batteries to the Baltic region enhancing collective air defence capabilities in the area. Initially located at Lielvarde Air Base, Latvia, since the end of March, the system was relocated to Kaunas Air Base, Lithuania in early July. A second Spanish battery is deployed to Ämari, Estonia. Both Spanish batteries are tied into NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence System via the regional Control and Reporting Centres supporting air surveillance and control of NATO airspace in the region.
“NASAMS is a state-of-the-art air defence system jointly developed by the United States and Norway. With its ability to detect, track, and engage multiple targets simultaneously, the system provides an essential layer of protection against a wide range of airborne threats, including aircraft, drones, and ballistic missiles,” said Major Antonio Izquierdo Aroca, Commander of the NASAM battery now at Kaunas.
Equipped with advanced sensors, radars, and missile launchers, the Spanish NASAMS batteries establish a comprehensive air defence shield around their deployment zones. The system’s highly mobile and adaptable nature allows for rapid deployment and operational flexibility, making it an ideal choice for securing key locations augmenting an overall defensive posture. The Spanish deployment of these advanced systems from their home garrisons in the southwestern part of the Alliance territory to the eastern flank underscores the collective commitment of NATO Allies to reinforce Baltic security and deter potential threats.
NASAMS is a distributed and networked short- to medium-range?4? ground-based air defense system developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) and Raytheon. The system defends against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), and fixed wing aircraft,[6]:?11? firing any of a wide range of existing missiles. NASAMS was the first application of a surface-launched AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile). NASAMS 2 is an upgraded version of the system capable of using Link 16, which has been operational since 2007. NASAMS has been exported to the United States, with the NASAMS 2 upgrade having been exported to Finland, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Spain, Oman, and Chile.
