The US Department of Defense has signed a contract to purchase the NASAMS air defense system. The deal is worth more than $1 billion.
Source: Official website of the Pentagon.
The US Department of Defense reported the relevant information. According to them, the contract should help Ukraine.
New Pentagon contract details
On November 30, the Pentagon reported that the US Department of Defense signed a $1.2 billion contract with Raytheon Technologies Co to supply six National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) to Ukraine.
The work would be performed in Massachusetts. The estimated completion date is November 28, 2025.
In November, Ukraine’s army received the first batch of two NASAMS air defense systems. Others will be provided as soon as they are manufactured.
On November 26, Raytheon Technologies announced that it received a contract worth $ 182 million for producing the NASAMS air defense system. As it turned out, the contract amount is higher.
Essential US assistance to Ukraine
Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, said that Kyiv hopes for further assistance from the United States. In particular, the supply of air defense systems, which is possible by the end of 2022.
It is known that the Biden administration is urgently adjusting plans to provide generators and air defense systems, including missiles for NASAMS.
It is worth noting that in a conversation about the priorities of the White House, US President Joe Biden said about Ukraine as one of the priorities.
NASAMS delivery to Ukraine
- The first NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems arrived in Ukraine on November 7.
- On November 14, the spokesman for the Air Force Command, Yuriy Ignat, said that the air defense is already protecting the Ukrainian sky.
- On November 22, Yuriy Ignat said that NASAMS air defense systems ideally shoot down cruise missiles, but there is only one issue. It is that there are few of these systems in Ukraine.
