Norway’s Kongsberg wins $400 million air defense contract to supply NASAMS to Kuwait
Europe, Middle East, News July 1, 2026 Comments Off on Norway’s Kongsberg wins $400 million air defense contract to supply NASAMS to Kuwait3 minute read
Norwegian defense company Kongsberg Gruppen has secured a contract worth approximately $400 million to supply the Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to Kuwait under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
The agreement, signed with Raytheon, will strengthen Kuwait’s air defense capabilities by integrating NASAMS into the country’s layered missile defense network. The system is designed to protect the population, critical infrastructure, and strategic assets from a wide range of aerial threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and other airborne attacks.
According to Kongsberg, NASAMS will become a key part of Kuwait’s air defense architecture, protecting both short-range and medium-range engagements while working alongside the country’s existing long-range defense systems.
The contract comes as Kuwait seeks to improve its air defenses following heightened regional tensions. Last week, the country faced missile and drone attacks that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said were launched in response to U.S. strikes on Iran.
Kongsberg said the acquisition addresses Kuwait’s immediate need for a modern and combat-tested air defense system capable of responding to evolving threats.
“The acquisition will help address Kuwait’s urgent operational need for modern, flexible and combat-proven air defense. It underscores NASAMS’ role as one of the world’s most widely deployed and operational medium-range air defense systems,” said Kjetil Reiten Myhra, President of Defense Systems at Kongsberg.
Partnership Between Kongsberg and Raytheon
NASAMS is jointly developed by Kongsberg and Raytheon and is supplied through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, which allows allied countries to purchase U.S.-approved defense equipment and systems.
The air defense system combines technologies from both companies and has become one of the world’s most widely used medium-range air defense platforms.
Kongsberg said NASAMS features a modular design and an open architecture, allowing new technologies and capabilities to be integrated throughout its service life. This enables the system to adapt to emerging threats and changing operational requirements without requiring a complete replacement.
Combat-Proven Air Defense System
NASAMS has been adopted by 15 countries and has gained international recognition as an effective medium-range air defense system.
It is designed to detect, track, and engage multiple airborne threats simultaneously, providing flexible protection for military installations, cities, and critical infrastructure. The system can also be integrated with other air defense assets, creating a layered defensive network capable of responding to different types of attacks.
Its mobility allows it to be rapidly deployed to different locations, while its networked command-and-control system improves coordination between sensors and missile launchers.
Growing Regional Security Concerns
The agreement reflects the increasing demand for advanced air and missile defense systems across the Middle East as regional security challenges continue to evolve.
Recent missile and drone attacks have highlighted the importance of integrated air defense networks capable of responding quickly to a variety of aerial threats.
By adding NASAMS to its existing defense infrastructure, Kuwait aims to improve its ability to defend key military facilities, government buildings, energy infrastructure, and civilian population centers against future attacks.
The $400 million contract also highlights continued defense cooperation between Norway, the United States, and Kuwait through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, which remains an important channel for supplying advanced military equipment to American partners and allies.
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