Royal Australian Navy successfully tests Naval Strike Missile on HMAS Sydney during RIMPAC 2024.

According to information published by the Australian DoD on July 22, 2024, the Royal Australian Navy has successfully tested the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) aboard the Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Sydney.
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HMAS Sydney successfully launched the Royal Australian Navy's first Naval Strike Missile during a SINKEX exercise off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii. (Picture source: RAN)

During Exercise RIMPAC 2024, held off Hawaii and hosted by the United States Navy, HMAS Sydney executed the missile firing in a simulated exercise targeting the decommissioned Ex-USS Tarawa LHA1. This event is a pivotal step in achieving the goals of Australia's National Defence Strategy, enhancing the Navy's operational capabilities and strengthening collaborations with industry and international allies.

The NSM is set to replace the aging Harpoon weapon system, offering improved long-range maritime strike abilities. HMAS Sydney, constructed in Osborne, South Australia, is equipped to provide robust air defense and maritime protection.

About the missile

The Naval Strike Missile (NSM), developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, is a long-range, precision-guided weapon designed for anti-ship and land-attack roles.

The missile measures 3.96 meters in length and weighs around 407 kilograms. It is powered by a turbojet engine, enabling it to travel at subsonic speeds of approximately 0.7 to 0.9 Mach. The NSM can be launched from various platforms, including ships, coastal batteries, and aircraft, with a specific variant, the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), developed for the F-35 fighter jet.

One of the standout features of the NSM is its sophisticated navigation and targeting system. It utilizes a combination of inertial navigation, GPS, and terrain-reference navigation to guide the missile to its target with high precision.

The missile is equipped with an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker, providing high-resolution target identification and classification through its Autonomous Target Recognition (ATR) capabilities. This seeker allows the missile to identify and engage targets autonomously, even in challenging conditions.

The NSM carries a high-explosive, blast-fragmentation warhead designed to penetrate ship hulls before detonating, ensuring maximum damage to the target. With a range exceeding 100 nautical miles, the NSM can engage targets far beyond the horizon, providing a significant tactical advantage.

Its design emphasizes stealth, with a low radar cross-section and sea-skimming flight profile that make it difficult to detect and intercept. Additionally, the missile performs high-G terminal maneuvers to evade defensive measures and increase its chances of a successful strike.