On October 14, the Dutch government (MoD) filed a recommendation to Parliament, outlining its intention to acquire the new systems as part of the CITADEL programme, a comprehensive integrated air and missile defense programme. The Netherlands first acquired the NASAMS system in 2006. The new acquisitions will improve and expand the country’s ground-based air defense capabilities. NASAMS can employ a mix of missiles in addition to the AMRAAM. The AMRAAM- Extended Range and AIM-9X Sidewinder offers both longer- and shorter-range capability. The company will not make any further statements before the contract is signed, which is expected to take place later in 2024.
“The Netherlands’ plans to acquire NOMADS and new NASAMS systems will significantly enhance the country’s operational capabilities. This forthcoming acquisition underscores NASAMS position as the world leading medium range air defence system, and the importance of NOMADS as an effective complement to NASAMS, offering a mobile and integrated air defence solution for NATO allies,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
In addition to NASAMS, the CITADEL solution also includes the National Manoeuvre Air Defence System, NOMADS – a highly mobile air defence configuration with short range missiles tailored to protection of land forces in a dynamic and contested land warfare environment. NOMADS features two launch canisters, each containing two missiles, a 3D radar and a KONGSBERG PROTECTOR remote weapon station. NOMADS is fully integrated with NASAMS and other NATO systems, enabling autonomous and networked operations with multiple vehicles. KONGSBERG will cooperate with Dutch industry and the weapon system deliveries will commence in 2028.
Kongsberg Gruppen is a Norwegian multinational company, that supplies high-technology systems to customers in the merchant marine, defence, aerospace, offshore oil and gas industries, and renewable and utilities industries. In 2018, Kongsberg had revenues of NOK 14.381 billion, and 6,842 employees in more than 25 countries. The company is headquartered in Kongsberg. It comprises three business areas: Kongsberg Maritime, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Kongsberg Digital. Kongsberg is a continuation of Kongsberg Weapons Factory (Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk – KV) (1814–1987). In 1995 the company changed its name to Kongsberg Gruppen.