2014 Russia-Ukraine War

NASAMS in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Ukraine has operated NASAMS in the full-scale phase of the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War since autumn 2022, using the system for air defense against Russian missiles and drones.

Weapon profileNASAMS
SideUkraineRoleAir DefenseForce ProtectionTraining & Foreign Aid
NASAMS, Medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: Commons NASAMS Dutch Mk2 launcher image

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
The United States announced two NASAMS for Ukraine in July 2022 through USAI procurement.

Sources: DoD July 2022 NASAMS Package

Ukraine had received the first NASAMS by November 2022.

Sources: DoD November 2022 Receipt Briefing, Kongsberg NASAMS Technology Awards

NASAMS was operational in Ukraine and used to intercept Russian missiles by mid-November 2022.

Sources: DoD November 2022 Operational Briefing, Zelenskyy November 2022 Address

Ukraine used NASAMS for air defense against Russian missiles and drones, including protection of civilians and infrastructure.

Sources: Kongsberg Technology Protects, Norway Secures NASAMS Missiles

U.S. assistance later listed 12 NASAMS and munitions committed to Ukraine.

Sources: DoD January 2025 Ukraine Fact Sheet

Timeline

NASAMS In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. United States announces first two NASAMS for Ukraine

    The U.S. Department of Defense announced an $820 million security-assistance package that included two NASAMS under USAI procurement for Ukraine.

    Sources: DoD July 2022 NASAMS Package

  2. Ukraine confirms receipt of the first NASAMS

    A Pentagon press briefing said Ukrainians had confirmed receipt of the first NASAMS announced in July and that the United States had committed eight NASAMS in total at that point.

    Sources: DoD November 2022 Receipt Briefing

  3. NASAMS credited during Russian missile attack

    President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine's NASAMS systems worked well during the day's Russian missile attack, with ten hits from ten launches.

    Sources: Zelenskyy November 2022 Address

  4. Pentagon says NASAMS are operational in Ukraine

    Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said NASAMS sent to Ukraine were operational and had intercepted Russian missiles during Russian bombardment.

    Sources: DoD November 2022 Operational Briefing

  5. U.S. fact sheet lists 12 NASAMS committed

    The U.S. Department of Defense listed 12 NASAMS and munitions among the air-defense capabilities committed to Ukraine.

    Sources: DoD January 2025 Ukraine Fact Sheet

  6. Norway announces additional NASAMS missiles

    Norway said it had recently delivered a significant number of air-defense missiles so NASAMS could continue protecting Ukraine during Russian missile and drone attacks.

    Sources: Norway Secures NASAMS Missiles

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

NASAMS entered the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War through U.S.-led and allied air-defense assistance to Ukraine after Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion. The U.S. Department of Defense announced the first two NASAMS for Ukraine on July 1, 2022, under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and said Norway's cooperation enabled the provision of modern air-defense systems for Ukraine against Russian air attacks.

The first systems were in Ukrainian hands by November 2022. A Pentagon briefing on November 10 said Ukrainians had confirmed receipt of the first NASAMS announced in July, and a November 16 Defense Department briefing said the systems sent to Ukraine were operational and had intercepted Russian missiles during the Kremlin's bombardment.

Sources: DoD July 2022 NASAMS Package, DoD November 2022 Receipt Briefing, DoD November 2022 Operational Briefing

Timeline

The public record begins with the July 2022 U.S. procurement announcement for two NASAMS. By November 2022, Ukrainian receipt and operational use were confirmed in Defense Department briefings, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly credited NASAMS after a large Russian missile attack.

U.S. security-assistance fact sheets later listed a larger committed package. By January 2025, the Department of Defense listed 12 NASAMS and munitions among air-defense assistance committed to Ukraine.

Sources: DoD July 2022 NASAMS Package, DoD November 2022 Receipt Briefing, Zelenskyy November 2022 Address, DoD January 2025 Ukraine Fact Sheet

Operational role

In Ukraine, NASAMS is documented as a ground-based air-defense system used to protect civilians, cities, infrastructure, and forces from Russian air attack. Kongsberg says NASAMS has been delivered to and deployed by Ukraine since autumn 2022, and describes the system as protecting Ukraine from aircraft, drones, and missiles.

Norwegian government statements in January 2026 described continued missile deliveries for NASAMS in Ukraine, saying the system had proven effective against Russian missiles and was being sustained so it could continue protecting Ukrainian citizens from deadly air strikes. That source supports continuing use and sustainment, while the earlier U.S. and Ukrainian sources support the initial delivery and operational-use milestones.

Sources: Kongsberg Technology Protects, Norway Secures NASAMS Missiles, DoD November 2022 Operational Briefing, Zelenskyy November 2022 Address

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Sources