Kongsberg signs initial contract with Australia for the Naval Strike Missile.

According to a PR published by Kongsberg on July 6, 2022, the company has signed an initial contract valued at MNOK 489 with the Commonwealth of Australia for Naval Strike Missile (NSM) capability. The order income is booked in the second quarter of 2022.
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Danish Naval Strike Missile launching from a ship (Picture source: Kongsberg)

On 5 April 2022, the Federal Government announced the accelerated acquisition of the NSM to replace the Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile on the Royal Australian Navy’s ANZAC Class Frigates and HOBART Class Destroyers.

About the Naval Strike Missile

The Naval Strike Missile is a fifth-generation missile with a low radar signature for use in sea-to-sea or sea-to-land defense. The missile, with its superior performance, can go up against well-defended targets with the ability to penetrate the most advanced air defense.

NSM is set up with integrated sensors to locate exact targets to engage, and will self-destruct if it is unable to locate its intended target – a build-in safety mechanism avoiding collateral damage.

When installed on ships, NSMs can be deck-mounted in packs of one, two, three, four, or six launchers. Total installation weight, including electronics and cabling, is 3,900 kg for four launchers, 7,700 kg for eight launchers, and 12,000 kg for 12 launchers

The NSM missile will weigh slightly more than 400 kg (880 lb) and have a range of more than 185 km (100 nm). It has a 125 kg HE (High Explosive) warhead. The missile, using GPS-aided mid-course guidance with a dual-band imaging infrared (IIR) seeker, detects and discriminates the targets.