The Norwegian Defense materiel administration has signed a contract with Rheinmetall for the upgrade of electro-optical sensors in the air defense system NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System). The value of the contract is around NOK 190 million. It includes an upgrade of the current analogue sensor system to the new digital sensor system.
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The NASAMS air defense system consists of many parts, where all modules can be moved using vehicles (Picture source: Norwegian MoD)

NASAMS is a mobile, modular and highly accurate air defense system used by both the Army and the Air Force. The air defense system consists, among other things, of launch units with missiles, command and control stations, radars and electro-optical sensors. The sensors to be upgraded are placed on an all-terrain vehicle and look for hostile threats in the air and on the ground, both in light and in the dark, using a TV camera and heat signature (infrared). The sensors also measure the distance to the target with a laser.

"The work to increase our national ability to protect against long-range precision weapons is ongoing and the modernization of today's NASAMS is one of several measures to strengthen Norway's air defence. The war in Ukraine has highlighted the need and importance of air defense. We have also recently signed a contract for the purchase of hand-held air defenses for the Army, to strengthen our ability to protect ourselves," says Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp). "This upgrade contributes to further modernization of Norway's air defence. Both the technical properties and the functions of the sensors are being improved," says Gro Jære, Director of Defense Materials.

The upgrade itself is based on the reuse of today's vehicle and base, while the technical parts - the "innards" - are replaced. Upgraded sensors for the NASAMS system will be continuously delivered to the Army and Air Force from the first half of 2025.

Norway currently has four NASAMS anti-aircraft batteries. The main task of the air defense system is to protect military and civilian installations, departments and other infrastructure against attack from the air. The air defense system consists of many parts, where all modules can be moved using vehicles.

The sensors to be upgraded are placed on an all-terrain vehicle and look for hostile threats in the air and on the ground, both in light and in the dark, using a TV camera and heat signature (infrared). The sensors also measure the distance to the target with a laser (Picture source: Norwegian MoD)