NASAMS – either defined as Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, is a short-to-medium range ground based air defense system originally brought into service in 1997 as a point defense system.It employs the AMRAAM Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air missile in a six-silo set mounted on a fully pivoting ground launcher. Designed in collaboration with both Norwegian and U.S. arms manufacturers as part of an integrated air defense system for sensitive ground targets. It has been used here in the States to protect targets in Washington D.C. and is currently in active service in the Ukraine opposing Russian missiles as well as other aerial targets. Reportedly, so far the system has destroyed over 100 Russian missiles and drones. At least two have been destroyed in combat – the main flaw in the system being its stationary nature – a real handicap in a highly mobile war. At this moment, there are late least 13 official operators of the system worldwide.

Trumpeter’s model of this system is a relatively simply build, as it’s basically a set of boxes on a launch platform. The kit permits the modeling of the system in either its deployed or pre-deployed system.Some small metal parts as well as photoetch are provided. Despite the fairly elaborate “hydraulic system” provided, there are really only two poses for the missile system itself – laid flat or at an approximately 45 degree firing angle, this being determined by the sensor rod mounted on the side of the missile cases.

There are no real challenges to building this kit as everything fits extremely well, including the various sides of the missile cases. I must confess I didn’t particularly enjoy dealing with the fairly extensive photoetch, but in the end these parts look good on the finished model.

The box art and internal directions show the rather elaborate Norwegian camouflage for the system, but I wanted to show it as deployed in the Ukraine. Having examined dozens of photographs from the battle front, I noted that they either came in a simple forest green camouflage or the standard NATO three-color scheme. Although I think I would have enjoyed playing with the provided scheme, I opted for something a bit more appropriate for my setting of choice.

What you end up with is essentially six rectangular boxes mounted on a flat rectangular base. Admittedly, not the most exciting visual in the world. When, I wonder, will kit manufacturers of such systems include a copy of the missile itself to set beside the finished model? It would certainly add some visual charm. Also, it would have been nice if Trumpeter included the wheel trundles used on the closed version to move it from place to place.

Still, the finished model appears quite accurate according to all the online information I could glean, and does finish up any collection based on the current Ukrainian conflict. For this review, I used a few ICM figures to demonstrate the size of the completed item.

If you’re looking for a fairly easy weekend build, this one might fit the bill.

My thanks to Trumpeter and MRC Academy for supplying the sample kit, and to IPMS/USA for a chance to add it to my Ukrainian conflict collection. Happy modeling to all, and stay safe!