In the midst of Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, the US Army has revealed that Raytheon has been given a $1.2 billion contract to construct six National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) for Ukraine.
The Department of Defense said on Wednesday that “work would be undertaken in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, with an expected completion date of November 28, 2025.”
Out of the eight NASAMS units promised by Washington, Kiev has so far received two. After being constructed, Ukraine is anticipated to receive the remaining systems.
In addition to the batteries themselves, the contract also covers training for Ukraine’s military personnel and logistical assistance.
The agreement is supported by a program known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which enables the Biden administration to buy weapons from the defense industry rather than removing them from the country’s military inventories already in place.
Due to Russia’s recent widespread missile attacks against military sites and energy infrastructure, Ukraine has claimed that it is in urgent need of air defense systems. Since accusing Ukraine of employing “terrorist methods” and attacking Russian infrastructure, particularly the crucial Crimean Bridge, on October 10, Moscow has increased pressure on Kiev.
The newly delivered NASAMS systems, according to the Pentagon, have so far shown to have a 100% success record in intercepting Russian missiles in Ukraine. However, the Russian Defense Ministry is adamant that each missile barrage struck all planned targets.
Washington has been Kiev’s principal ally during the fight with Moscow until to this point, giving Vladimir Zelensky’s administration military supplies totaling more than $19.8 billion, including high-tech equipment like HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, M777 howitzers, and combat drones.
Russia has long criticized the US and its allies for providing weaponry to Ukraine, claiming that these supplies only serve to prolong the crisis and raise the possibility of outright conflict between NATO and Moscow.
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