Defence has signed a contract with Kongsberg to deliver the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), which will be employed on the Hobart Class destroyers and Anzac Class frigates, replacing the ageing Harpoon anti-ship missile on those ships from 2024.
In a media release announcing the news on 5 January, Defence said the NSM contains 'leading-edge technology' that will provide Royal Australian Navy ships with a 'powerful maritime strike capability'.
In 2022, the Commonwealth of Australia announced the selection of Kongsberg’s NSM to replace the Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile capability under an accelerated acquisition under Project Sea 1300.
“This is a significant milestone in the pathway to delivering a modern, effective, and survivable precision strike missile capability to the Royal Australian Navy. Executing this contract will be achieved through close collaboration between Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Australian industry and the Commonwealth,” Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace said.
Kongsberg said it is committed to developing sovereign domestic capabilities in support of its systems through knowledge transfer and Australian manufacturing opportunities. This contract will see 'significant Australian content for a program of this nature', delivered through Kongsberg Defence Australia and its growing network of Australian suppliers, the company said.
In the same announcement, Defence also revealed that Australia will purchase 20 Lockheed Martin High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), with a combined total investment in these new guided weapons acquisitions reaching more than $1.0 billion.
“In the current strategic environment, it’s important the Australian Defence Force is equipped with high-end, targeted military capabilities," Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles said.
“The Government is taking a proactive approach to keeping Australia safe – and the Naval Strike Missile and HIMARS launchers will give our Defence Force the ability to deter conflict and protect our interests.”
“The Government is getting on with delivering the Australian Defence Force the capability it needs for the 21st century," Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy added. "The level of technology involved in these acquisitions takes our forces to the cutting edge of modern military hardware.
“The Naval Strike Missile is a major step up in capability for our Navy’s warships, while HIMARS launchers have been successfully deployed by the Ukrainian military over recent months and are a substantial new capability for the Army.”
Developed in Norway, Kongsberg's NSM is a fifth generation, long-range, precision strike weapon designed to defeat heavily protected maritime targets in contested environments, with a secondary role for land attack. It is in service or has been selected by 11 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Norway.