Another country joins NSM missile buyers from Kongsberg [ANALIZ]

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) signed with Australia to deliver the Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) missile for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to replace the used anti-ship missile RGM-84 Harpoon Block II on type frigates ANZAC and destroyers of type Hobart Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

In 2022, Commonwealth of Australia announced the selection of the NSM missile by KONGSBERG to replace anti-ship missiles RGM-84 Harpoon Block II. Exchange Harpoon’s is part of a 3.5 billion AUD (US$2.61 billion) package of accelerated modernization of the arms of the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) announced on April 5.

It is a significant milestone on the way to deliver a modern, effective and surviving capability of precision-fire missiles for the Royal Australian Navy. Implementation of this contract will be possible thanks to close cooperation between Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Australian industry and Commonwealth.
Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace

KONGSBERG is involved in developing capacity to support its systems through the transfer of knowledge and production capabilities in Australia. This contract will contain significant Australian content for the programme of this nature, provided by Kongsberg Defence Australia and its growing network of Australian suppliers.

Selection NSM Block 1A as a preferred replacement solution Harpoon’s is part of the implementation of the Sea 1300 programme. Created under the Maritime Force Development Plan, the programme deals with consolidating the development and management of arms directed for the Royal Australian Navy. Sea 1300 belongs to a broad cluster of RAN battle capacity development programmes to be financed under a 20-year investment programme worth AUD 24 billion announced in January 2021.

O Naval Strike Missile (NSM)

Naval Strike Missile is a precise long-range impact weapon that seeks and destroys enemy ships over a distance of more than 180 km. The missile uses inertial navigation, GPS and field navigation and infrared guidance (with target database on board the missile).

NSM is a very flexible system that can be launched from different platforms against different targets at sea and land. The design and high thrust to mass ratio give NSM missiles an exceptionally good maneuverability.

The missile is completely passive and has proven its excellent ability to navigate the sea, and thanks to advanced terminal maneuvers it will survive the enemy's air defense. The Autonomous Identification of Objectives (ATR) by the Seeker shall ensure the detection, recognition and identification of the relevant target, both at sea and on land.

NSM is a fifth generation antiship missile manufactured by Kongsberg and operated in the US by Raytheon. The NSM reached its initial operational capability on Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen frigates and Skjold corvettes in 2012.

Australia became the 12th and newest customer of the Naval Strike Missile in December 2022, joining the Norwegian, Polish, Malaysian, German, US (both for the US Navy and USMC), Romania, Canada, Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom.

EXCHANGE

Length – 3.96 metres

Diameter – 0.69 metres, wingspan 1.31 metres

Weight – 412 kg

TECHNICAL PARAMETERS

Speed – 0.9 Macha

Missile range – 180 km

Source: Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace