Denmark has agreed to a 500-million-euro ($579 million) deal to purchase the NASAMS air defense system from Kongsberg.
The Danish defense ministry, having leased NASAMS earlier in July, announced in September that it was considering a broader acquisition of the system, potentially alongside Germany’s IRIS-T and France’s VL MICA, to strengthen its medium-range air defense network.
Army Recognition reports that initial NASAMS deliveries will begin in 2026, with the system reaching full operational capability by 2028. Once fielded, Denmark will become the 14th nation to deploy NASAMS and the eighth NATO member to do so.
NASAMS employs a flexible, modular open-architecture setup that integrates Kongsberg’s fire distribution center and launchers with Raytheon’s AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar. This combination provides robust protection against aircraft, helicopters, unmanned systems, and various missile threats.
Its main interceptor, the AIM-120 AMRAAM, is common to many fighter aircraft, reducing overall logistical burdens. The system can also launch the AMRAAM-ER for extended-range threats and the AIM-9X Sidewinder for close-in defense.
Additionally, the United States approved in mid-November a potential foreign military sale of as many as 340 AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles to support Denmark’s air defense enhancements.
