Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview broadcast on Sunday that his country has acquired an advanced air defense system from the United States.

This is the first confirmation of Ukraine's acquisition of the "NASAMS" system that Kyiv has long sought to obtain and which Washington agreed to provide to it late last month.

According to the transcript of the interview in English, Zelensky said, "We absolutely need the United States to show leadership and give Ukraine the air defense systems. I want to thank President (Joe) Biden for a positive decision that has already been made."

"But believe me, it is not even enough to cover the civilian infrastructure - schools, hospitals, universities and homes of Ukrainians," he added.

Zelensky thanked Biden for the delivery of the HIMARS missile system and other multi-barrel launchers that enable Ukraine to advance in areas occupied by Russian forces.

He added: If the United States is able to show its leadership and provide us with tanks, then Germany and other European countries will follow in that, and these tanks will enable us to liberate Ukrainian lands.

Ukraine launched counterattacks this month to liberate large parts of Russia-controlled territory in the northeastern province of Kharkiv, and made field gains in the south of the country as well.

Russia describes its seven-month-old war in Ukraine as a "special military operation" and denies targeting civilians during it.

NASAMS missile system

The following is some information about the system that Ukraine obtained from Washington:

The Nasams air defense missile system was developed with American-Norwegian cooperation in 1998.

Entered service with the Royal Norwegian Air Force in 2005.

Nasams were installed within the SAMS air defense system to protect the airspace around the White House and the Capitol Building (Congress) in Washington.

This system can be deployed for the purposes of detection, tracking, engagement and destruction of fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones.

The air defense system enables the engagement of 72 targets simultaneously.

The range of the missile when launched from the ground ranges between 15 and 25 km, depending on the type of version.

The system consists of a high-accuracy, three-dimensional, surveillance and reconnaissance radar to detect and track air targets.

The advanced system is equipped with 3 multi-tasking launchers, each carrying 6 ready-to-launch missiles.

The system features a 360-degree defensive capability, and is suitable for day and night operations in all weather conditions.