Australia to test StrikeMaster coastal defense system with NSM missiles mounted on Bushmaster vehicles.

According to ABC News on December 4, 2024, the Australian Army is advancing plans to integrate the StrikeMaster, a domestically developed missile-launching system mounted on the Bushmaster vehicle, into its long-range strike capabilities. The StrikeMaster is equipped with the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), a precision-guided weapon capable of striking targets at ranges exceeding 250 kilometers. It is designed to engage both land-based and maritime targets. Initially unveiled in 2022, the system was developed through a partnership between Kongsberg and Thales and is intended to provide "area denial" capabilities in northern Australia as part of the country's updated defense strategy.
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The StrikeMaster is equipped with the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), a precision-guided weapon capable of striking targets at ranges exceeding 250 kilometers. (Picture source: Thales)

Under Project LAND 8113 Phase Two, the Federal Government has initiated a tender process to compare the StrikeMaster with the American-made M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System). The HIMARS can deploy the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), which has a range exceeding 400 kilometers. The government has highlighted the StrikeMaster as a less expensive and locally produced alternative, emphasizing its potential to strengthen domestic production capabilities. Despite its prioritization by the Albanese government, there has been internal resistance within the Army regarding the system's adoption.

The Naval Strike Missile (NSM), developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in Norway, entered service in 2012 as the successor to the Penguin missile. It is constructed with materials designed to reduce radar visibility and features a titanium-cased warhead for precise targeting. Originally integrated into Norway’s Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates and Skjold-class corvettes, the NSM has also been adopted by Poland’s Coastal Missile Division, the United States, and Australia. The missile’s flexibility has enabled its use across a variety of platforms, including naval vessels and land-based systems.

The NSM’s operational range exceeds 250 kilometers, and it employs GPS guidance, terrain-following technology, and an imaging infrared seeker for autonomous target identification and engagement. The missile is designed to fly at low altitudes to avoid detection and countermeasures. In Poland, the Coastal Missile Division deploys the NSM using mobile launchers supported by radar and command vehicles, enabling a networked defense system. The missile has also been adapted for land operations, as demonstrated by the U.S. Marine Corps' Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), which employs unmanned vehicles for increased flexibility and range.

The integration of naval missile systems onto land vehicles enhances coastal defense by enabling land-based forces to engage maritime targets. This capability allows rapid repositioning along coastlines, complicating adversary planning and operations. Using existing platforms to deploy naval missile technology reduces development costs while maintaining operational effectiveness. The NMESIS, for instance, successfully demonstrated this concept during a 2021 exercise, striking a target ship from a ground-based launcher. Similarly, the Australian Army is exploring the StrikeMaster system as a mobile coastal defense solution using the NSM, providing strike capabilities over 250 kilometers.

Australia’s interest in long-range precision strike systems aligns with the 2023 Defence Strategic Review (DSR), which calls for a response to changing security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region, including the expansion of China’s military activities. The DSR recommends strengthening the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by acquiring more advanced strike systems across ground, air, and maritime domains to address vulnerabilities in conventional defenses.

The ADF’s approach includes plans for domestic production of Kongsberg's NSM and Joint Strike Missile (JSM) and collaboration with the United States on the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program to enhance ground-based strike capabilities. In the aerial domain, Australia has expressed interest in acquiring the B-21 Raider stealth bomber from the United States, citing previous experience with Canberra bombers and F-111 aircraft. In the maritime domain, the AUKUS agreement includes plans for the development of nuclear-powered submarines to increase operational capabilities in the region.

The StrikeMaster and similar systems are being evaluated as part of a broader strategy to enhance Australia’s defense posture. These initiatives are aimed at improving the country’s ability to respond to regional security challenges through the integration of advanced systems and technologies across all operational domains.