Australia partners with Kongsberg to produce Naval and Joint Strike Missiles in $850 Million facility.

On August 22, 2024, the Australian Government announced an investment of up to $850 million in partnership with Kongsberg Defence Australia to establish a missile manufacturing and servicing facility at Williamtown, near Newcastle. This facility, to be located within the Newcastle Airport precinct, is projected to create over 500 jobs during the construction phase and contribute approximately $100 million to the local economy. Once operational, the facility will employ around 100 people.
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The HMAS Sydney launched the Royal Australian Navy’s first Naval Strike Missile during a SINKEX off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024. (Picture source: Australian MoD)

The facility will focus on the production and servicing of Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This site will be one of only two such facilities globally, the other being in Kongsberg, Norway. Construction is expected to begin later this year, in line with the government's objective of enhancing domestic defense manufacturing capabilities.

This partnership is part of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, a component of the Australian Government’s 2024 Integrated Investment Program. The program allocates up to $21 billion over the next decade, consistent with the 2024 National Defence Strategy’s emphasis on improving the ADF’s precision strike capabilities and ensuring the ability to manufacture munitions within Australia.

The NSM and JSM, which will be produced at the facility, are anti-ship and land-attack missiles. The NSM is intended to be integrated into the Hobart-class destroyers and Anzac-class frigates, replacing the current Harpoon anti-ship missile and enhancing the combat capabilities of Australia’s surface fleet. A recent test of the NSM was conducted by HMAS Sydney in July 2024.

The Naval Strike Missile (NSM) can strike targets over 100 nautical miles away, guided by GPS, terrain reference, and imaging infrared homing systems. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Naval Strike Missile (NSM), developed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, is an advanced anti-ship and land-attack missile system. Initially designed for the Royal Norwegian Navy, the NSM has been adopted by various navies due to its precision, versatility, and survivability. The missile can strike targets over 100 nautical miles away, guided by GPS, terrain reference, and imaging infrared homing systems. Its low radar signature and sea-skimming capabilities make it difficult to detect and intercept.

Since its deployment in 2012, the NSM has been integrated into various naval platforms globally. The U.S. Navy has deployed the NSM on Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), with plans to equip all Independence-class variants by 2026 and all Freedom-class variants by 2032. This deployment aims to enhance the fleet's over-the-horizon strike capabilities, particularly in contested regions like the Indo-Pacific. The first operational test by the U.S. Navy was conducted by the USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) in 2019.

The Royal Navy is also replacing its Harpoon missiles with NSMs on Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers, as part of an upgrade to its anti-ship warfare capabilities. The first installations have been completed on ships such as HMS Somerset.

The JSM missile is approximately 4 meters long, weighs around 416 kilograms, and has a range exceeding 275 kilometers. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Additionally, the U.S. Marine Corps is adapting the NSM for land-based operations through the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS). This system uses modified Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) to launch NSMs from shore, providing a mobile anti-ship capability, particularly in the Pacific theater.

The Joint Strike Missile (JSM), also produced at the Williamtown facility, is an air-launched cruise missile developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, primarily for the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. It is an evolution of the NSM, tailored for air-launch operations and optimized for internal carriage within the F-35's weapons bay. The JSM is designed for both anti-surface warfare and land attack roles.

The JSM has undergone testing, including flight tests from F-35 aircraft, and is integrated into the arsenals of several NATO countries, including Norway and the United States. It is approximately 4 meters long, weighs around 416 kilograms, and has a range exceeding 275 kilometers. The missile includes an advanced mission planning system with terrain-following flight capabilities.

The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is an evolution of the NSM, tailored for air-launch operations and optimized for internal carriage within the F-35's weapons bay. (Picture source: Kongsberg Defence Australia)