Have NOMADS air defense systems arrived in Ukraine?
The NOMADS air defense system was first shown at Eurosatory 2024. Photo: Jane's
Ukraine, along with its foreign partners, continues to attempt to restore its air defense. The latest step, presumably, was the delivery of a small batch of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. missile Kongsberg NOMADS systems. If the delivery is confirmed, the Norwegian-developed equipment will enhance the existing Defense, primarily in the fight against attack UAVs.
According to known data ...
Recently, the German company Flensburger Fahrzeugbau GmbH (FFG) has been involved in the production of military equipment for Ukraine. Earlier this year, it was reported that it had built and was preparing to ship eight ACSV G5 (Armored Combat Support Vehicle) tracked chassis. The purpose of their production and the intended role of their use were not disclosed at the time.
A few days ago, in mid-June, new details emerged. The authors of the military-technical blogs GAU and Jeff21461 attended the Eurosatory 2026 exhibition in Paris (recall that NOMADS was first publicly shown there two years earlier, in 2024) and spoke with FFG representatives. According to them, eight tracked chassis were intended for NOMADS self-propelled anti-aircraft systems, and these vehicles have already been assembled and delivered to Ukrainian forces. Deployment and combat readiness issues were not discussed, which is understandable.
However, just a few days later, the GAU blog deleted the post. The author cited a misunderstanding and a lack of reliable information. He also noted that NOMADS manufacturers neither confirmed nor denied the construction and transfer of the systems to Ukraine.
Nothing has changed in the past few days. Officials remain silent, and bloggers are no longer raising the issue. The reasons are unclear. The deletion of the post itself proves nothing: such self-censorship is commonplace when dealing with sensitive military data. But the phrasing "misunderstanding" makes it sound as if the blogger accidentally revealed real information, rather than intentionally spreading an unverified rumor. Although it's impossible to say for sure yet.
Demonstration of the new air defense system to the Norwegian military, 2023. Photo: Norwegian Ministry of Defense.
It's possible that the project participants will soon officially confirm the construction and delivery of the air defense missile systems. Confirmation could also come from the Ukrainian side, as combat units are unlikely to refuse to display the new equipment.
Regardless, the NOMADS's specifications are worth examining separately: both to understand what this class of aircraft is capable of and to assess what exactly Ukraine will receive.
Self-propelled version
The NOMADS (National Maneuver Air Defense System) system was developed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace since 2018. The customer was the Dutch Armed Forces. They wanted a self-propelled air defense system with the same capabilities as the existing NASAMS system, but on a mobile tracked platform capable of accompanying mechanized units. In 2019, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense became the second customer.
Kongsberg served as the lead developer. Several other companies were involved as system and component suppliers:
- German FFG - ACSV G5 chassis;
- Danish Weibel Scientific - radar detection and tracking;
- Norwegian Nammo - rocket engines for the AIM-9X (the integrator and developer of the missile itself is the American RTX/Raytheon; Nammo will localize engine production in Europe);
- German Diehl Defence - IRIS-T guided missile.
By early 2023, the project had reached the first prototype, which was soon shown to representatives from Norway and the Netherlands. Factory testing began that same year. In 2023–2024, the prototypes were handed over to the Norwegian military for field trials, and in May 2024, the first missile test launches took place.
NOMADS was first publicly shown at the Eurosatory 2024 exhibition, where its main characteristics and capabilities were also revealed.
Orders and deliveries
The first firm (contractual) order was placed by the Norwegian Ministry of Defense in 2019: six units, delivered by 2024. Also in 2024, the start of trial operations and test launches was announced. Since serial equipment is not typically subjected to such testing, this likely refers to a pilot (pre-production) batch.
The current status of this equipment is unclear. Norway has not officially announced the completion of testing, trial operation, or acceptance into service. However, the systems are still capable of performing combat testing.
NOMADS at the training ground. Photo: Kongsberg
The Netherlands initiated the project, but the delivery contract was only signed in November 2024. It provides for 18 self-propelled systems and six command vehicles on a standardized chassis, plus additional NASAMS in a fixed configuration. The first NOMADS systems are scheduled to enter service in 2028, with the full complement planned for the early 2030s, and the system expected to achieve full operational capability in the first half of the 2030s.
According to unconfirmed reports, eight ACSV G5 chassis were recently transferred to Ukraine with funding from Germany. This contradicts the initial bloggers' report regarding the transfer of complete air defense systems: according to industry media, this refers specifically to the delivery of platforms from the FFG factory, while the NOMADS combat modules are being manufactured and delivered separately. Therefore, the transfer of complete systems is not yet certain. If all eight vehicles are completed, Ukraine will have the largest fleet of such systems: eight units versus six from Norway.
Technical potential
NOMADS is a self-propelled short-range air defense system capable of operating both autonomously and as part of larger air defense systems. It can accompany troops on the march or serve in a stationary position. Its design makes extensive use of off-the-shelf components, which should simplify production and operation.
To assess its place, it's worth comparing it to the mobile short-range air defense systems already in operation in Ukraine. The closest in class is the German Gepard (anti-aircraft artillery(up to 5,5 km) and the British Stormer HVM (Starstreak missiles, up to 7 km). In terms of range, NOMADS with IRIS-T SLS (up to 12 km) and AIM-9X (up to 10 km) missiles exceeds both of these systems, but is inferior to medium-range systems like NASAMS or IRIS-T SLM. Its purpose is to provide tactical cover for units in the near zone, primarily against UAVs and low-flying targets. Intercepting ballistic missiles, high-altitude cruise missiles, or long-range cruise missiles is not included in this niche.
The vehicle is based on the FFG ACSV G5 tracked chassis with an armored hull that protects against bullets and shrapnel. The forward section houses the crew compartment and some of the equipment, while the rear section provides storage for weapons and equipment. The engine is an MTU 6V199 TE21 diesel engine producing 460 kW (approx. 625 hp).
The ACSV chassis defines the main characteristics of the complex:
- length - less than 7 m;
- width - approx. 3 m;
- height - 3 m;
- combat weight - 26 tons (tare weight 18 tons + up to 8 tons of payload);
- highway speed - 74 km/h;
- range — 600 km;
- The duty period at one filling station is 12 hours.
Rocket launch. Photo by Kongsberg
The SAM system is equipped with a Weibel Scientific XENTA-M5 target acquisition and tracking radar. The antenna is mounted on a telescopic mast at the rear. The radar provides 360-degree coverage, detection, and tracking of targets, including small UAVs; the latter have a detection range of up to 8–10 km.
Two two-man launchers are located in the rear. The missiles are launched from an inclined position toward the forward hemisphere, and can only be aimed by rotating the entire vehicle, as the launchers lack their own traverse mechanism.
The munitions consist of two types of anti-aircraft missiles. The first, the IRIS-T SLS, is borrowed from the SAM system of the same name: weighing 87,4 kg, with a warhead of 11,4 kg and an infrared seeker. The launch range is up to 12 km, and the altitude reach is 8 km. The second is aviation AIM-9X Sidewinder (developed by RTX/Raytheon, powered by Nammo), similar in size and weight to the IRIS-T SLS; launch range up to 10 km.
Both missiles carry infrared seekers, and this is where their main limitation lies. This type of guidance is accurate against visible heat-emitting targets, but is vulnerable to decoys and performs less well against targets with a weak heat signature, such as small electric UAVs. It's also worth keeping in mind the relative nature of the stated ranges: for a ground launch against a small target, the actual lock-on distance depends heavily on the angle and altitude, so the figures quoted are more of an upper bound.
For self-defense, the system carries a Kongsberg Protector RS4 remote-controlled combat module with a large-caliber M2HB (12,7 mm) machine gun and guidance optics.
NOMADS's strengths include its tracked mobility (it can travel alongside mechanized columns), its standard missiles from European arsenals, and its compact platform. Its weakness is its close-in range: in terms of range (10–12 km) and altitude (up to 8 km), the system is inherently limited, covering only a small area of airspace.
If delivery is confirmed, NOMADS will be tested for the first time in a real conflict, and its successes or failures will be closely monitored by future customers. And it will also reveal the true value of a tracked close-in air defense system in real combat, not just on the firing range.
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