Pentagon Taps Raytheon for $1B NASAMS Sale to Kuwait

The US Department of Defense has awarded Raytheon a $1-billion contract for the supply of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) fire units for Kuwait.

Corresponding activities for the agreement will be facilitated in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and are expected to be finalized by May 2031.

Raytheon will coordinate progress with the US Army Contracting Command in Redstone, Alabama, which holds oversight of the initiative.

NASAMS is a ground-based air defense platform that uses medium- to long-range high-explosive blast fragmentation warheads.

It can carry up to six missiles and targets fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and cruise missiles at up to 60 kilometers (37 miles).

The weapon has a firing altitude of 69,000 feet (21,000 meters) and uses discrete sensors to detect threats at around 120 kilometers (75 miles).

The order comes amid Kuwait’s rearming initiatives following repeated missile and drone strikes from Iran.

Tehran frames those incursions as retaliation linked to the wider regional conflict involving the US and Israel.

Before its latest foreign military sale with the US, Kuwait invested $370 million in naval combat systems and a separate $467 million for hull development tied to its future Al Dorra missile boats.

The country is also expanding defense production capacity, inaugurating a factory last February that produces NATO-standard light ammunition rounds to strengthen self-reliance.

A month earlier, Washington approved an $800-million support package to help Kuwait sustain its Patriot air and missile defense systems.