Raytheon, Kongsberg develop new radar for NASAMS

Raytheon, an RTX business, announced a new partnership with the Norwegian government and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to co-develop the GhostEye radar, a mobile medium-range air and missile defense sensor intended to enhance the widely deployed NASAMS system.

According to Raytheon, the GhostEye radar will be designed in the United States, with two critical radar subassemblies co-developed by Kongsberg in Norway. The project is the first to be executed under an expanded NASAMS collaboration agreement signed by the three parties in October 2023.

“GhostEye can be mounted on various vehicles, making it suitable for any operational environment,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “Coupled with a combat-proven air defense system like NASAMS, this new sensor will help Norway and other allied nations defend against sophisticated and evolving aerial threats.”

Eirik Lie, president of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, noted that the long-standing partnership between Raytheon and Kongsberg has been central to NASAMS’ evolution. “Continuous development and improvements from both Kongsberg and Raytheon are among the key factors behind the NASAMS success story,” Lie said. “With the new GhostEye radar, the NASAMS system capabilities are expanded to maintain its superior performance and flexibility.”

The radar is built with active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology and military-grade gallium nitride components, increasing its sensitivity, resolution, and range. GhostEye is designed for 360-degree coverage and can detect, track, and classify a wide range of airborne threats, including drones, cruise missiles, and fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft. Its design allows for rapid deployment and transport across varied terrain, enhancing operational flexibility.

Rolf Kjos, National Armaments Director at Norway’s Ministry of Defence, said the NASAMS system remains “strategically important for Norway’s defense capabilities and crucial for safeguarding national security interests.” He also highlighted its operational relevance in Ukraine. “It has also proven to be crucial for safeguarding Ukraine against air threats,” Kjos added.

Raytheon and Kongsberg have partnered on NASAMS for over three decades.