Denmark has finalized a 500-million-euro ($579 million) agreement to purchase the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) from Kongsberg.
The country’s defense ministry, which initially leased NASAMS in July, indicated in September that it was evaluating a permanent acquisition of the Norwegian system—possibly in combination with Germany’s IRIS-T and France’s VL MICA—to meet its medium-range air defense requirements.
According to Army Recognition, the first NASAMS components are scheduled for delivery in 2026, with full operational capability expected by 2028.
With the purchase, Copenhagen will become the 14th global operator of NASAMS and the eighth within NATO.
NASAMS uses a modular, open-architecture design built around Kongsberg’s fire distribution center and launchers, paired with Raytheon’s AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar. This configuration enables defense against a broad array of threats, including aircraft, helicopters, drones, and missiles.
The system’s primary interceptor is Raytheon’s AIM-120 AMRAAM, also used by fighter jets—an advantage that helps streamline logistics. It is also capable of firing the AMRAAM-Extended Range missile for long-range engagements and the AIM-9X Sidewinder for shorter-range intercepts.
In mid-November, the US approved a potential foreign military sale to Denmark for up to 340 Sidewinder tactical missiles.
