Norway joins GhostEye radar development program to enhance air defense capabilities
Europe, News June 25, 2025 Comments Off on Norway joins GhostEye radar development program to enhance air defense capabilities3 minute read
Norway has joined Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and American defense firm Raytheon, an RTX company, to develop the GhostEye radar, a cutting-edge mobile sensor for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS).
The announcement was made during the 2025 Paris Air Show, where Raytheon and Kongsberg also reaffirmed their long-standing partnership by extending their cooperation agreement for an additional ten years. The development of GhostEye is the first formal initiative under a strategic NASAMS collaboration agreement signed by the three parties in October 2023.
According to the RTX statement, the radar will be designed and developed by Raytheon in the United States, with key radar subassemblies co-developed by Kongsberg in Norway. With GhostEye, NASAMS gains enhanced capabilities to remain the leading medium-range air defense solution for allied nations across the globe.
National Armaments Director at the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence Rolf Kjos highlighted the importance of this collaboration and said, “The NASAMS air defense system is strategically important for Norway’s defense capabilities and crucial for safeguarding national security interests. It has also proven to be crucial for safeguarding Ukraine against air threats.”
NASAMS is renowned for its flexibility and advanced capabilities. The system is modular, meaning it can be upgraded with new technology to adapt to emerging threats. The system’s open architecture enables it to integrate various types of sensors, weapons, and control systems, allowing customization based on specific needs. This feature ensures that NASAMS remains relevant in a rapidly changing defense landscape.
President of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon, Tom Laliberty said, “GhostEye can be mounted on various vehicles, making it suitable for any operational environment. Coupled with a combat-proven air defense system like NASAMS, this new sensor will help Norway and other allied nations defend against sophisticated and evolving aerial threats.”
President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Eirik Lie said, “Continuous development and improvements from both Kongsberg and Raytheon are among the key factors behind the NASAMS success story. With the new GhostEye radar, the NASAMS system capabilities are expanded to maintain its superior performance and flexibility.”
GhostEye Radar
The GhostEye radar system offers 360-degree surveillance and fire control capabilities. Engineered for rapid deployment and high mobility, it is built to perform in rugged and challenging terrains. It can detect and track diverse airborne threats—including drones, cruise missiles, and both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.
The radar leverages active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology, significantly enhancing its detection, tracking, and targeting performance. It also incorporates military-grade gallium nitride (GaN) components, delivering stronger signals, greater sensitivity, extended range, sharper resolution, and improved tracking precision.
GhostEye paves the way to further enhance and grow the capabilities of NASAMS to remain the world’s leading medium-range air defense system.
Key Features:
- Mobile and compact radar suited for medium-range air defense.
- Also based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology.
- Designed to enhance NASAMS with 3D surveillance and improved target acquisition.
- Supports tracking of small drones, aircraft, and cruise missiles.
- Modular and rapidly deployable.
- Enhances the situational awareness and range of existing NASAMS batteries.
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