Western-supplied NASAMS air defense system shoots down 11 Russian missiles in two minutes during massive air attack against Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Air Force has reported the destruction of eleven Russian cruise missiles in a single engagement using a NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) battery, highlighting a high level of operational performance. The Ukrainian unit managed to neutralize all targets within a span of just two minutes, according to an official video released on 27 April 2025. The NASAMS battery involved belongs to the third modification, one of the first variants transferred to Ukraine by its Western partners in autumn 2022. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, each NASAMS unit consists of a command post, a radar, and several launchers, with each launcher housing six AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.
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The NASAMS battery involved belongs to the third modification, one of the first variants transferred to Ukraine by its Western partners in autumn 2022. (Picture source: Ukrainian Air Force)

During a typical Russian mass missile strike, the radar detects multiple incoming threats, operators manually designate targets, fire missiles, and report the engagement outcomes. The operators featured in the video explained that their unit alone has destroyed over 150 aerial targets, mainly cruise missiles but also including other types of threats. They also stressed that Russian propaganda claims about the supposed failures of Ukraine’s air defense systems are false, pointing out that the AIM-120 missiles are equipped with self-destruct mechanisms if they miss their targets, and do not have the explosive power of Russian ballistic missiles.

The commander of the featured NASAMS unit, Hero of Ukraine Kyrylo Peretiatko, gave further details in the video about the performance and structure of the NASAMS system during high-intensity air defense operations. He described how the NASAMS third modification works with a command center, an MPQ-64 radar, and launchers, operating mainly in manual mode to maximize precision through human judgment rather than relying fully on automation. He emphasized that one application of NASAMS usually means one destroyed target, reinforcing the effectiveness of the system against aerodynamic threats like cruise missiles, aircraft, helicopters, and drones. However, Peretiatko reiterated that NASAMS is not designed to engage ballistic missiles, due to radar limitations and the fact that AIM-120 missiles cannot intercept ballistic targets. He described the difficulty in retraining personnel previously accustomed to Soviet-era air defense systems, but confirmed that the unit overcame these challenges and now also trains new soldiers on NASAMS operations.

In a broader context, NASAMS has had a significant impact on Ukraine’s air defense. According to a statement from the Norwegian Armed Forces in February 2025, NASAMS systems in Ukraine have successfully shot down around 900 missiles and drones since November 2022, achieving an estimated interception rate of 94%. Nearly 60% of these neutralized threats were cruise missiles, including Kh-101, Kh-555, Kalibr, Iskander-K, Kh-59, and Kh-69. Colonel Per Steinar Trøite, head of Norway’s Air Force support to Ukraine, stressed that these numbers represent a very high success rate. Norwegian-trained Ukrainian personnel have proven highly effective, transitioning quickly from training to direct deployment on the front lines. Trøite added that mobile air defense systems like NASAMS have played a key role in preventing the Russian Air Force from operating freely over Ukrainian airspace, limiting Russia mostly to drone and missile attacks.

The operators featured in the video explained that their unit alone has destroyed over 150 aerial targets, mainly cruise missiles but also including other types of threats, such as drones. (Picture source: Ukrainian Air Force)

At the same time, NASAMS systems have been used to protect high-value strategic sites inside Ukraine, such as critical infrastructure, governmental hubs, hospitals, and airfields. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the presence of mobile air defense systems, including NASAMS, has forced Russia to shift away from crewed aircraft operations and instead rely mainly on drone and missile attacks. The defense of key locations, such as Kyiv during the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, has likely depended heavily on the availability and effectiveness of NASAMS batteries, in addition to other systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously praised NASAMS for its high success rates in intercepting incoming threats, sometimes reportedly achieving a 100% interception record during mass missile attacks.

The initial delivery of NASAMS systems to Ukraine took place in November 2022, under a military aid package coordinated by the United States with contributions from Norway and Canada. After their arrival, the Ukrainian Air Force recorded immediate operational successes, including a 100% interception rate against Russian missiles during the strikes of 15 November 2022. Subsequent reinforcement followed, with the delivery of additional NASAMS units and missiles throughout 2023 and 2024, and new donations announced in late 2024 and early 2025. These systems have been gradually integrated into Ukraine’s broader mobile air defense network alongside other Western-supplied equipment, significantly enhancing the country's ability to counter missile and drone threats across strategic areas.

The NASAMS system itself, developed jointly by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and the United States’ Raytheon, was first fielded in the late 1990s. The third-generation NASAMS 3, currently in use in Ukraine, can employ a range of missiles including the AIM-9X Sidewinder, the AIM-120 AMRAAM, and the AMRAAM-ER, offering engagement ranges up to 50 kilometers with AMRAAM-ER. NASAMS components are modular and mobile, with radar units and launchers capable of operating dispersed to increase survivability. Operators work from Fire Distribution Centers (FDCs), with airspace pictures generated and decisions made manually or semi-automatically, depending on the operational mode selected. Each launcher carries six missiles, and the radars such as MPQ-64F1 Sentinel have a detection range of up to 120 kilometers.

They also stressed that Russian propaganda claims about the supposed failures of Ukraine’s air defense systems are false, pointing out that the AIM-120 missiles are equipped with self-destruct mechanisms if they miss their targets. (Picture source: Ukrainian Air Force)

The Ukrainian units operating NASAMS have adapted rapidly and developed significant practical experience under combat conditions. Norwegian instructors described the Ukrainian soldiers as professional and highly motivated, with some reportedly finding brief periods of training abroad as welcome moments of relative calm before returning to the realities of war. Norwegian specialists also noted that instructing Ukrainian crews has improved their own skills and provided valuable operational feedback. Moreover, Norwegian and Western officials emphasized that defending critical infrastructure with systems like NASAMS is both strategically and economically justified, given the massive damage that would otherwise result from successful Russian strikes.

In addition to frontline operations, NASAMS systems are now deployed internationally to protect logistics hubs linked to Ukraine. In December 2024, Norway deployed NASAMS batteries to Poland to secure Rzeszów Airport, a key node for coordinating military aid shipments to Ukraine. The deployment includes both NASAMS systems and Norwegian F-35 fighter jets and is scheduled to continue until Easter 2025. Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram stated that this contribution serves Ukraine, Poland, and NATO commitments simultaneously, emphasizing the critical value of layered air defenses demonstrated throughout the ongoing conflict.

The Ukrainian Air Force continues to appeal to its partners for further supplies of missiles for NASAMS, underscoring that every missile is a life saved and a city protected. In describing the operational context, the Air Force noted that rapid reloading during air attacks has become routine for NASAMS units, with Ukrainian operators claiming they may have broken records for reloading speed compared to other countries. This capability was considered essential during major Russian missile strikes, especially those targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure. The operators expressed a strong commitment to continue defending their country, emphasizing the importance of maintaining stockpiles of missiles for sustained defensive efforts.

Colonel Per Steinar Trøite, head of Norway’s Air Force support to Ukraine, added that mobile air defense systems like NASAMS have played a key role in preventing the Russian Air Force from operating freely over Ukrainian airspace, limiting Russia mostly to drone and missile attacks. (Picture source: Ukrainian Air Force)