Netherlands air and missile defence procurement. (Dutch MoD)
The Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace announced on 14 October that the Netherlands is procuring the National Manoeuvre Air Defence System (NOMADS) mobile ground-based short-range air-defence (SHORAD) system and more National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) medium-range air-defence (MRAD) systems under the CITADEL comprehensive integrated air and missile defence programme. The Dutch MoD said on its website that it would procure systems for six new NASAMS and four NOMADS batteries, as well as missiles and simulation equipment, State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman told parliament on 14 October.
The ministry expected deliveries to take place in phases starting in 2028. In its press release announcing the procurement, Kongsberg valued the deal at approximately NOK11 billion (USD1 billion).
The Dutch MoD said the MRAD and SHORAD systems, with ranges of 50 km and 15 km respectively, would defend against attacks by fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with MRAD countering larger UAVs and cruise missiles. It said the weapon systems with associated radars complement each other seamlessly, with secure wireless communications.
It noted that NASAMS MRAD can be armed with various air-defence missiles. These include Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), AMRAAM-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER), and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 26 May that the US had approved the possible Foreign Military Sale of AIM-9X Block II missiles requested by the Dutch government.
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