Belgium is moving ahead with a major expansion of its ground-based air-defense capabilities after Kongsberg signed a contract to supply NASAMS systems to the country. The deal is worth 10 billion Norwegian krone, equivalent to approximately $1.04 billion, with the equipment being procured through the Dutch Armed Forces on Belgium’s behalf. NASAMS is a network-centric air-defense system developed by Kongsberg and Raytheon. It integrates command-and-control infrastructure with radars, sensors, and missile launchers to detect, track, and engage airborne threats. The architecture can employ several types of missiles, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM, AMRAAM Extended Range, and AIM-9X Sidewinder. Because the system uses an open architecture, additional sensors, weapons, and technologies can be incorporated as threat conditions change. Belgium had announced in July that it would obtain 10 NASAMS systems under a defense cooperation arrangement with the Netherlands. The newly signed contract completes the acquisition and places Belgium among the countries operating the system. The procurement supports Belgium’s plan to restore a layered air-defense capability after years of limited ground-based coverage. The planned network is intended to address threats across different ranges, with NASAMS serving alongside shorter- and longer-range systems. The initiative is also linked to Belgium’s wider military modernization programme under its Strategic Defense Plan 2025, which calls for substantial spending on air and missile defense, aircraft, naval assets, land equipment, and ammunition. European militaries have increasingly emphasized layered air defense as drones, cruise missiles, aircraft, and other threats have demonstrated their ability to challenge traditional defenses.
