Kongsberg has secured a contract valued at NOK 1.5 billion ($155 million) to expand the Netherlands’ CITADEL integrated air defense program, strengthening the country’s ability to counter a broad range of aerial threats.
The agreement covers the delivery of several National Maneuver Air Defence Systems (NOMADS) for highly mobile short-range air defense. It also includes additional capabilities for the Netherlands’ existing National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) fleet.
NOMADS is designed to provide protection for maneuvering ground forces against short-range aerial threats. The system integrates command and control, radar, and missile capabilities onto a highly mobile armored platform, enabling it to accompany frontline units and operate in dynamic combat environments.
The system can detect and engage threats such as drones, cruise missiles, helicopters, and aircraft. Kongsberg designed NOMADS to operate alongside NASAMS and other NATO air defense systems, allowing multiple platforms to be integrated into a broader networked air defense architecture.
CITADEL’s Layered Air Defense Architecture
The CITADEL program combines complementary air defense systems designed to protect different areas of the battlefield and counter threats at various ranges.
NASAMS provides the program’s medium-range air defense layer. Developed by Kongsberg and Raytheon, the system uses distributed launchers, sensors, and command-and-control components to detect, track, and engage airborne targets.
NOMADS adds a highly mobile short-range capability. Its current configuration can carry four AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles and is equipped with a 3D radar, cameras, and a remote weapon station. This combination enables the system to provide close-range protection for mobile military formations.
The CITADEL architecture has continued to expand beyond the initial NASAMS and NOMADS procurement. In December 2025, Kongsberg signed an agreement with Rheinmetall to integrate its command-and-control solution with the Skyranger 30 mobile air defense system.
The expanding CITADEL network reflects the Netherlands’ broader effort to develop a layered and interconnected air defense capability capable of responding to evolving threats, particularly drones, cruise missiles, and other low-altitude aerial targets.
