What is NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System)?

About NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System):

• It is a medium-range, ground-based air defense system.
• It was designed and developed jointly by Raytheon (United States) and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Norway).
• NASAMS reached operational capability in 1994 and was first deployed by the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
• The missile system is in service in the armed forces of 13 countries, including Norway, Spain, the US, Finland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Australia, Indonesia, Qatar, Oman, Lithuania, and an undisclosed nation.
• The NASAMS can be deployed to identify, engage, and destroy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and to protect high-value assets and mass population centers against air-to-surface threats.
• It has been integrated into the US National Capital Region’s air defense system since 2005. 
• Features:
  • It is the world's first networked short- and medium-range air defense system that could integrate with other equipment and air defense systems.
  • It features an X-Band, 360-degree phased array air defense radar with a 75-kilometer (approximately 47-mile) range to identify targets.
  • The NASAMS is armed with three launchers, each carrying up to six missiles.
  • The system can engage 72 targets simultaneously in active and passive modes.
  • It uses AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, which have been modified for ground launch and have an engagement range of about 30 kilometers.
  • It features network-centric, open architecture that provides increased survivability against electronic countermeasures.

Q1: What is the purpose of the surface-to-air missile?

A surface-to-air missile (SAM) is a radar or infrared guided missile fired from a ground position to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft or missiles.

Source: ET