By Harold W. Reid, The Chicago Times
July 3, 2022
WASHINGTON – The United States will send Ukraine two NASAMS surface-to-air missile systems to assist Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces.
The Pentagon announced Friday that Ukraine will receive the advanced National/Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) system as part of the latest $820 million US assistance package. The Pentagon will also include ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). US military aid to Ukraine has reached the $7.6 billion mark since the Russian invasion in February.
“I am especially grateful today to the United States and to Biden personally for the package of support for Ukraine announced today, which includes very powerful NASAMS – an anti-aircraft missile system that will significantly strengthen our air defense. We have worked hard for these supplies.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement.
NASAMS is an Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile system that became operational in 1998 and has seen three successive generations. Currently, NASAMS 3 was deployed in 2019 and is capable of launching AIM-9 Sidewinder and IRIS-T SLS short-range missiles, in addition to AMRAAM-ER extended-range missiles.
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