Washington is discussing plans with Berlin and other European partners to launch joint production in Europe of missiles for NASAMS air defense systems, Reuters reported, citing a source.
According to the agency, the talks focus on Raytheon’s AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. The sides are also considering the creation of a European maintenance facility for Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 missiles, which are used in Patriot systems.
The AIM-120 is not limited to NASAMS. The same missile is also carried by US-made F-16 fighter jets.
Reuters notes that such projects could ease the pressure on Raytheon and Lockheed Martin plants in the United States. By shifting part of the workload to Europe, Washington would be able to free up industrial capacity and expand military production at home.
NASAMS, short for Norwegian/National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System, is a mobile air defense platform of Norwegian origin. It was developed by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace together with Raytheon.
The system has a modular design and uses AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. It is intended to intercept drones, including strike UAVs, as well as aircraft, helicopters and cruise missiles.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM is a medium-range air-to-air guided missile equipped with an active radar seeker. Depending on the version, its range can exceed 100 kilometers.