NOMADS ground-based air defence system

Last updated
NOMADS
ACSV G5 NOMADS - SHORAD.png
TypeMobile ground base air defence system
Place of originFlag of Norway.svg Norway
Service history
In servicePlanned to enter service in 2026
Used bySee #Operators
Production history
Designer Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace
DesignedSince 2019
Manufacturer
Developed from Kongsberg NASAMS
ProducedSince 2024 [1]
Specifications
Mass26.0 t (57,300 lb) [2] [3] [4]
Length6,928 mm (22.730 ft)
Width2,996 mm (9.829 ft)
Height3,050 mm (10.01 ft)
Main
armament
4 × AIM-9x Block 2
Secondary
armament
 Kongsberg Protector RS4 RWS with a M2 Browning HMG
Engine MTU 6V199 TE21 (multi-fuel)
460 kW (630 PS)
2,400 N⋅m (1,800 ft⋅lb)
Power/weight17.7 kW/t (24.1 PS/t)
Transmission ZF Friedrichshafen LSG 1000 HD automatic transmission (6 speed forward, 2 backwards)
Suspension Torsion bar
Operational
range
600 km (370 mi) + 12 hours of operation
Maximum speed 74 km/h (46 mph)
Guidance
system
Weibel XENTA-M5 radar

The NOMADS (NatiOnal Maneuver Air Defence System) is a short range mobile ground base air defence system designed and made by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. [3] [4]

Contents

The system is designed to protect a manoeuvring army, transportation routes, convoys, command centres, logistical hubs in a dynamic environment from targets such as aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and all types of unmanned aerial vehicles. [5] [6]

History

In October 2019, the Norwegian Army signed a contract for the development of a mobile ground based air defence system worth NOK 583 million. It is designed with short range capabilities objectives, a capability to be used off-road, and to be equipped with modern missiles, an AESA radar. [7]

A demonstration of the system took place in 2023. [8]

In June 2024, the mobile GBAD system was unveiled for the first time, and the name of the system was unveiled as well NOMADS. [6]

Design

The NOMADS is an air defence module for armoured vehicles that is designed to lock on standard 10-foot ISO container twist locks. [9]

Platform

The primary platform for which the module was designed is the ACSV G5 from the German company FFG (Flensburger Fahrzeugbau GmbH). [10] However, the module could equip any vehicle that would have the dimensions, the payload and stability requirements met. [11]

ACSV G5

The ACSV G5 is an armoured tracked vehicle with a capability to be used offroad. It uses the Composite Rubber Track system supplied by the Canadian company Soucy. [12] [13]

As part of the vehicle design philosophy, it is approached with a high degree of standardisation, such as: [14]

  • Extensive use of MOTS (military off the shelf) and COTS (commercial off the shelf) products and parts. These include existing mechanical parts that are already battle-proven (engine, transmission, tracks, suspension).
  • Electronic components of the vehicle: [14]
    • Compliant with the NGVA standards (NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture).
    • Compliant with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
    • Data security by complying with the concept of red and black networks.

It is a multi-mission vehicle that is being used by Norway for several other roles, and will be used by the Netherlands as a command vehicle for the air-defence batteries. [15] It was also announced in April 2025 that the Netherlands had an interest for a larger order of ACSV G5. That would include 100 to 150 vehicles. [16]

Effectors

NOMADS Air defence system ready to fire PMMC G5 with NOMADS air defence system.jpg
NOMADS Air defence system ready to fire

The NOMADS is equipped with 3 effectors: [3] [4]

Primary effectors - surface-to-air missiles

IRIS-T SLS

The NOMADS was developed to fire the IRIS-T SLS missile. It is the same missile as the air-to-air variant. [17] And launched from the ground, it has a range of 12 km (7.5 mi) and a flight ceiling of 8 km (26,000 ft). [18]

Some trials took place in summer 2023 with this missile. [17]

The reason for this choice came from the face that Norway used that missile with its F-16, 150 missiles were initially purchased. [19] [20] As Norway retired the F-16, and replaced it with the F-35A which cannot use the IRIS-T missile, it was decided to reuse the missile with its air-defence systems, the NOMADS and the NASAMS. However, in the summer of 2023, Ukraine needed some additional air-defence munitions. As Germany provided IRIS-T SLS and IRIS-T SLM air defence fire units, Norway decided to donate its remaining missiles. [21]

Norway could have continued to use the IRIS-T SLS as its range is longer, but a major share of the production of the missiles is dedicated to Ukraine. [17]

AIM-9X Block 2

Norway already used the AIM-9x Block 2 with its NASAMS and its F-35A, it became the obvious choice for this NOMADS. [17] With the AIM-9X Block 2, the range mentioned by Kongsberg is 10 km (6.2 mi). [22]

Secondary effectors

Remote weapon station

A remote weapon station can be installed on the system. Kongsberg presented the NOMADS at Eurosatory 2024 with the Protector RS4 RWS equipped with a M2 Browning HMG. [17]

RF directional jammer

Kongsberg presented the NOMADS at Eurosatory 2024 with a Blackrock jammer as a counter-UAS system, although no information suggests that this option was chosen by the Norwegian Army. [22]

Sensors

Radars

The radar selected by Norway and the Netherlands for the NOMADS is the Weibel Scientific XENTA-M5. [22] The XENTA-M radar family is used as 3D radars for surveillance and target tracking of aerial objects and it can be used on the move. The radar works on the X-band, it is made of GaN TRM, and it is designed for a 360° coverage as it rotates at a speed of 60 rpm. It is able to follow high and low speed targets, large aircraft, missiles and small UAVs. [23]

In May 2025, Kongsberg signed a contract with Weibel Scientific for a batch of radars to be supplied in 2026 and 2027. The contract had a value of DKr 500 million (the equivalent of USD $75 million). The radars are manufactured in Denmark. [24]

Kongsberg mentioned that the system was designed to use other radars that have a similar role, the following radars are suitable options for a SHORAD role:

Sensors for the remote weapon station

The remote weapon station is equipped with both active sensors (laser range finder) and passive sensors (a day/night camera, and a thermal camera). [3] [4]

Communications and C2 (command and control)

Command and control

The NOMADS inherits some of the NASAMS C2 functions and applications. It is interoperable with NATO data links and protocols, and therefore it can integrate NATO IAMD (Integrated Air and Missile Defence). [28] [3] [4]

Communications

The NOMADS is equipped with VHF and UHF radio systems. It uses an IFF (identification friend or foe) NATO Mode 5 Level 2. [28] [3] [4]

The NOMADS system is capable of operating as part of a distributed network operation. It can use both the Link 16 and the JREAP-C (Joint Range Extension Applications Protocol - variant C) as tactical data links. [28] [3] [4]

Operators

Future operators

Flag of Norway.svg Norway (6)
6 NOMADS ordered in 2019, with 4 handed over as of July 2024, but not yet operational. [29]
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands (18)
As part of the CITADEL programme, the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands announced selecting the Norwegian Kongsberg M-GBAD air-defence system based on the ACSV G5 in June 2023, with deliveries expected in 2028 and 2029. [30] These vehicles will eventually replace the 18 Fennek SWP (Stinger Weapon Platform) equipped with 4 FIM-92 Stinger missiles. [30] [31]
In November 2024, the Netherlands signed a contract for the delivery of: [15] [32] [33]
  • NASAMS-3 systems
  • 18 NOMADS air defence systems
  • 6 command vehicles based on the ACSV G5

References

  1. ↑ "Norwegian company Kongsberg starts mass production of new air defence system NOMADS". gagadget.com. 20 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "ACSV G5 Armoured combat support vehicle brochure" (PDF). ffg-flensburg.de.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "NOMADS - National Manoeuvre Air Defence System". kongsberg.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "NOMADS Short range air defence for mobile operations" (PDF). kongsberg.com.
  5. ↑ "Kongsberg Launches New Mobile Short-Range Air Defence System". www.defensemirror.com. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Kongsberg Launches New Mobile Short-Range Air Defence System". www.defensemirror.com. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  7. ↑ "Contract to deliver Mobile Ground Based Air Defence to the Norwegian Army worth 583 MNOK". www.kongsberg.com. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "– Mechanized Short-Range Air Defence with unique capabilities". www.kongsberg.com. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  9. ↑ "IAV 2025: FFG showcases tracked Skyranger concept for the Netherlands". Default. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  10. ↑ "– Mechanized Short-Range Air Defence with unique capabilities". www.kongsberg.com. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  11. ↑ Badhwar, Colby (9 November 2024). "Kongsberg unveils new NOMADS air defense system". Defense Archives. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  12. ↑ "Quebec-based Soucy composite track system on Norwegian combat support vehicle | Canadian Army Today" . Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  13. ↑ Heckel-Elies, Angeline (22 November 2022). "CRT Systems". Soucy Defense Division. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  14. 1 2 "FFG PRÄSENTIERT GEPANZERTE INNOVATIONEN IN PARIS" (in German). 17 June 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  15. 1 2 Valpolini, Paolo (21 November 2024). "Kongsberg signs NOK 12 bn contract for NASAMS and NOMADS deliveries to the Netherlands". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  16. ↑ "Combat General Purpose Vehicle – FFG kann auf Großauftrag für den ACSV G5 aus den Niederlanden hoffen" (in German). 25 April 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Badhwar, Colby (9 November 2024). "Kongsberg unveils new NOMADS air defense system". Defense Archives. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  18. ↑ Onlineredaktion, Dorothee FrankLeiterin (1 August 2024). "Aktuelle und künftige Versionen der IRIS-T SL" (in German). Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  19. ↑ "Diehl Defence: IRIS-T, the short-distance missile of the latest generation". Diehl.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  20. ↑ "IRIS-T". www.deagel.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  21. ↑ admin (27 August 2023). "Norway to Donate IRIS-T Surface-to-air Missiles and Equipments to Ukraine - MilitaryLeak.COM" . Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  22. 1 2 3 "Eurosatory 2024: Kongsberg launches NOMADS air-defence system". Default. 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  23. ↑ "XENTA-M1, XENTA-M3 & XENTA-M5 SHORAD Radars" (PDF).
  24. ↑ Rani, Archana (16 May 2025). "Weibel to deliver XENTA radars for Norwegian NOMADS system". Army Technology. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  25. ↑ "Kongsberg führt das mobile Luftverteidigungssystem NOMADS auf FFG-Fahrzeug ein" (in German). 19 June 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  26. ↑ "Kongsberg führt das mobile Luftverteidigungssystem NOMADS auf FFG-Fahrzeug ein" (in German). 19 June 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  27. ↑ "Oerlikon AMMR2.0 - AESA Multi-mission radar family" (PDF).
  28. 1 2 3 "Closer to the frontline – Mechanized Short-Range Air Defence with unique capabilities". www.kongsberg.com. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  29. ↑ Newdick, Thomas (19 June 2024). "Norway's NOMADS Armored Short Range Air Defense System Unveiled". The War Zone. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  30. 1 2 "Verwerving luchtverdediging op korte en middellange afstand in 1 project" [Acquisition air defence on short and long distance in 1 project] (in Dutch). 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  31. ↑ "Netherlands will enhance GBAD capabilities with NASAMS air defence system". 7 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  32. ↑ "Netherlands to acquire NASAMS and NOMADS air defence systems from KONGSBERG". www.kongsberg.com. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  33. ↑ "Kongsberg führt das mobile Luftverteidigungssystem NOMADS auf FFG-Fahrzeug ein" (in German). 19 June 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
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