Naval Strike Missile

Development

The Naval Strike Missile's initial serial production contract was signed in June 2007. It has been chosen by the Royal Norwegian Navy for its s and s. In December 2008 the NSM was selected by the Polish Navy, which ordered fifty land-based missiles (including two for testing) in deals made in 2008 and 2011, with delivery planned for between 2013 and 2016. The final milestone was completed in June 2011 with tests at Point Mugu. On 12 April 2011, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense announced phase 2 of development.

On October 10, 2012, the Royal Norwegian Navy fired an NSM for the first time, from the HNoMS Glimt, a Skjold-class patrol boat. On Wednesday, June 5, 2013, the Royal Norwegian Navy made the first test firing of an NSM missile carrying a live warhead against a target vessel. The decommissioned HNoMS Trondheim was hit and the munition functioned as intended.

In June 2013 Poland completed the Coastal Missile Division equipped with 12 NSMs and 23 vehicles on Jelcz chassis (including 6 launchers, 2 TRS-15C radars, 6 fire control vehicles, and 3 command vehicles). Ultimately, the Coastal Missile Division will be equipped with 12 launchers carrying 4 missiles each for a total of 48 missiles. In December 2014 Poland ordered a second batch of launchers and missiles to equip a Naval Strike Missile battalion.

In late July 2014, the U.S. Navy confirmed that the NSM would be tested aboard the littoral combat ship . The test occurred successfully on 24 September 2014. Kongsberg and Raytheon teamed to pitch the NSM to equip the LCS as its over-the-horizon anti-ship missile in 2015. By May 2017, the extended-range Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon and Lockheed Martin AGM-158C LRASM had been withdrawn from the Navy's Over-the-Horizon Weapon System (OTH-WS) competition, leaving the NSM as the only remaining contender. On 31 May 2018, the Navy officially selected the NSM to serve as the LCS' OTH anti-ship weapon. The $14.8 million initial contract award to Raytheon calls for the delivery of Kongsberg-designed "encanistered missiles loaded into launching mechanisms; and a single fire control suite,” and buys about a dozen missiles; the entire contract value could grow to $847.6 million if all contract options are exercised. The Navy plans to deploy the NSM in late 2019. The NSM will be designated as the RGM-184A in US service.

During RIMPAC 2014 the frigate Fridtjof Nansen made a successful firing of the NSM during a SINKEX, with the missile impacting and detonating as designed.

In the LIMA exhibition 2015, Malaysia announced that the Naval Strike Missile had won the contract to fulfil the Royal Malaysian Navy's Maharaja Lela-class's anti-ship missile requirement.

In February 2017, the Norwegian government announced that the German Navy will acquire "a significant amount" of Naval Strike Missiles under a deal valued at "more than 10 billion NOK".

During RIMPAC 2018, USARPAC fired a Naval Strike Missile from the shore to sink a ship.

In October 2019 the USS Gabrielle Giffords fired off a Naval Strike Missile at a surplus US Navy frigate, USS Ford, which was towed close to Guam, in the Pacific, to act as a target in a SINKEX.

According to Naval News in June 2024 the Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer USS Fitzgerald, and Hobart-class Guided Missile Destroyer HMAS Sydney, were observed in Honolulu with NSM box launchers during RIMPAC 2024.

The NSM is to be used by the U.S. Marine Corps as part of the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), which places an NSM launcher unit on an unmanned JLTV-based mobile launch platform to enable the Marines to fire anti-ship missiles from land.

In June 2023 the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Otto Sverdrup fired off a Naval Strike Missile at a surplus corvette in a SINKEX in the Norwegian Sea.

In August 2024, the Australian Government announced that a partnership agreement had been signed with Kongsberg's local subsidiary — Kongsberg Defence Australia — for the manufacture and servicing of Naval Strike Missiles for the Royal Australian Navy at a new purpose-built factory. The factory is to be constructed at the Astra Aerolab Business Park near the city of Newcastle in New South Wales and will also manufacture the Joint Strike Missile for the Royal Australian Air Force. Manufacturing of missiles is expected to commence from 2027.

During the MSPO 2024 defense exhibition, it was announced that the NSM missiles will equip Poland's Wicher-class frigates, replacing the previously planned RBS 15 Mk 3.

As of 2025, Denmark became the 14th country to procure the Naval Strike Missile, integrating it into its Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates. The deal, valued at approximately €180 million, was conducted through a bilateral agreement with Norway and represents a step in aligning Danish naval capabilities with NATO interoperability goals.

In November 2022, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence announced the purchase of the Naval Strike Missile for the Royal Navy as an interim replacement for the RGM-84 Harpoon, pending the introduction of the Anglo-French Stratus missile, currently under development. The NSM system is intended to be installed in eleven Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers. In September 2025, conducted the Royal Navy's first live firing of an NSM at the Andøya test range, during a NATO exercise.

Design and features

Base variant - ship launched

The state-of-the-art design and use of composite materials are meant to give the missile sophisticated stealth capabilities. The missile will weigh slightly more than 400 kg and have a range of more than 185 km. NSM is designed for littoral waters ("brown water") as well as for open sea ("green water and blue water") scenarios. The usage of a high-strength titanium alloy blast/fragmentation warhead from TDW is in line with the modern lightweight design and features insensitive high-explosive. Warhead initiation is by a void-sensing Programmable Intelligent Multi-Purpose Fuze designed to optimise effect against hard targets.

Like its Penguin predecessor, NSM is able to fly over and around landmasses, travel in sea skim mode, and then make random manoeuvres in the terminal phase, making it harder to stop by enemy countermeasures. While the Penguin is a yaw-to-turn missile, NSM is based on bank-to-turn flight (see Yaw (flight) and flight control). In 2016, it was confirmed by the Royal Norwegian Navy that NSM also can attack land targets.

The target selection technology provides NSM with a capacity for independent detection, recognition, and discrimination of targets at sea or on the coast. This is possible by the combination of an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker and an onboard target database. NSM is able to navigate by GPS, inertial and TERCOM systems.

After being launched into the air by a solid rocket booster which is jettisoned upon burning out, the missile is propelled to its target in high subsonic speed by a turbojet sustainer engine—leaving the 125 kg multi-purpose blast/fragmentation warhead to do its work, which in case of a ship target means impacting the ship at or near the water line.

NSM CDS (coastal defence system)

Polish variant

An NSM coastal battery consists of three missile launch vehicles (MLV), one battery command vehicle (BCV), three combat command vehicles (CCV), one mobile communication center (MCC), one mobile radar vehicle (MRV) with TRS-15C radar, one transport and loading vehicle (TLV), and one mobile workshop vehicle (MWV). Each MLV carries 4 missiles and can be connected to the CCV by optical fiber or radio up to 10 km away; up to 6 launchers with 24 missiles can be netted together at once. 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 8600 lb for 4 launchers, 17000 lb for 8 launchers, and 26000 lb for 12 launchers.

Australian variant

The fire unit was developed by Kongsberg Defence Australia and Thales Australia. The fire unit is made of:

• Launcher: StrikeMaster based on the Thales Bushmaster vehicle.
• Command and control: Fire Control Centre based on the Thales Bushmaster vehicle, and made and designed by Kongsberg Defence Australia.
• Missile resupply: Missile Re-supply Vehicle based on the Thales Bushmaster vehicle.

The launcher was tested in October 2025 in Norway.

NSM-SL (submarine launched)

At MSPO 2017, a variant of the submarine launched NSM was unveiled. Spain was interested in this missile for the S-80 Plus submarines.

The development of NSM-SL was canceled in 2021. The Netherlands and Spain are considering a joint procurement of a submarine launched version of the Joint Strike Missile instead.

NSM-AL (aircraft launched)

In 2024, the Spanish ministry of defence launched a study to evaluate the capacity to equip the NSM missile to its NH90 HHSPN helicopter. The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency and Royal Norwegian Air Force has suggested carrying the NSM on the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance airplane, but no decision has yet been made to proceed.

EuroPULS - MARS 3

In May 2025, KNDS tested the NSM missile on the EuroPULS, a German variant of the PULS multiple launch rocket system by KNDS Deutschland on a 8×8 Iveco Trakker chassis.

Operators

Current operators

NSM on ships

;Australia : :* :* :* (under construction) ;Netherlands : :* :Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate (under construction) ;Norway : : :* ;Poland : :Wicher-class frigate (under construction) ;United Kingdom : (a total of 11 vessels from the Type 23 and Type 45 classes to be equipped) : :Type 45-class destroyer ;United States : : :* :* :*

Coastal defence

;Poland :: :*Coastal Missile Squadron ;United States :United States Marine Corps: :*U.S. Marine Corps - 261 NMESIS-systems planned by 2033

Future operators

NSM on ships

Belgium : :Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate-class (under construction) ;Canada : :River-class destroyer (under construction) ;Denmark : :Ivar Huitfeld-class frigates ;Germany : : ;Malaysia :: : : ;Spain : : : :120 NSM Block IA missiles ordered for €300 million.

Coastal defence

;Denmark : ;Latvia : ;Romania : :*Delivery expected to be finished by Q4 2028

Potential operator

NSM on ships

;Indonesia :: :* ;India :

Coastal defence

;Australia : :Project LAND 8113 - Phase 2, the NSM is competing with Lockheed Martin's M142 HIMARS firing a Precision Strike Missile for an Australian Army land-based maritime strike order. Kongsberg and Thales are offering the StrikeMaster, a pair of NSM missiles mounted on a Thales Bushmaster utility vehicle. ;Bulgaria :Bulgarian Navy : The US State Department approved a sale of NSM CDS missile systems to Bulgaria worth $620 million.

NSM-SL (submarine launched)

;Spain : :S-80 attack submarine ;Netherlands : :

References

References

1. (30 April 2025). "NSM-JSM Missiles".
2. "SAS 2019: Kongsberg pitching NSM-HL missile for maritime helicopter - Naval News".
3. [[Janes Information Services. (20 December 2022). "Naval Strike Missile (NSM)". Jane's Group UK Limited.
4. "Missile Systems".
5. (29 June 2007). "Contract for serial production of the new Naval Strike Missile".
6. (28 December 2011). "Finał zakupu NSM".
7. Górka, Marcin. (22 December 2008). "Superrakiety w starej marynarce".
8. "Kongsberg's NSM Naval Strike Missile Completes Final Milestone".
9. (22 June 2011). "Successful final milestone for NSM".
10. (4 December 2011). "Utvikling av trinn to, Joint Strike Missile".
11. Schjønberg, Snorre. (5 June 2013). "Her sprenger Forsvaret sitt eget skip". Dagbladet.no.
12. (30 September 2013). "Testet missil på gammel fregatt".
13. (28 June 2013). "Ukompletowanie NDR".
14. Richardson, Doug. (28 December 2014). "Poland orders its second NSM battalion".
15. Cavas, Christopher P.. (24 July 2014). "LCS to conduct test of Norwegian missile".
16. LaGrone, Sam. (24 September 2014). "Norwegian Missile Test On Littoral Combat Ship Successful".
17. LaGrone, Sam. (9 April 2015). "Raytheon and Kongsberg Team to Pitch Stealthy Norwegian Strike Missile for LCS".
18. LaGrone, Sam. (24 May 2017). "Lockheed Martin Drops LRASM Out of Littoral Combat Ship/Frigate Missile Competition".
19. LaGrone, Sam. (31 May 2018). "Raytheon Awarded LCS Over-the-Horizon Anti-Surface Weapon Contract; Deal Could be Worth $848M".
20. Larter, David B.. (24 October 2018). "The US Navy's new ship-killer missile slated to make its fleet debut much sooner than expected".
21. Vavasseur, Xavier. (4 October 2019). "NSM - Naval Strike Missile - Now Has a U.S. Navy Designation".
22. (23 July 2014). "Missiles Sink Two Retired Navy Ships". Military.com.
23. Nybø, Katrine. (13 February 2017). "Missilsamarbeid med Tyskland gir norsk sal for 10 milliardar". Norsk rikskringkasting AS.
24. (24 May 2017). "Association of the United States Army LANPAC Symposium and Exposition". U.S. Pacific Command.
25. (29 June 2024). "USS Fitzgerald and HMAS Sydney Show up at RIMPAC 2024 with NSM".
26. (19 August 2021). "SINKEX ~ US Forces Conduct Sinking Exercise".
27. "Senker krigsskip i Norskehavet". VGTV.
28. Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy. (22 August 2024). "Albanese Government investment to boost Long-Range Strike for ADF and deliver jobs for Hunter Region".
29. (6 December 2024). "Ground Breaking for Kongsberg’s Missile Manufacturing and Maintenance Facility in Newcastle". Kongsberg Defence Australia.
30. Ciślak, Jarosław. (2024-09-10). "Mieczniki z innymi rakietami. Zmiany na polskich fregatach [ANALIZA]".
31. (2025-03-26). "Denmark Acquires 'Naval Strike Missiles (NSM)' from Norway to Replace Harpoon Systems on Iver Huitfeldt-Class Frigates".
32. . (22 November 2022). ["Royal Navy Warships to Receive Harpoon Replacement from Next Year"](https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2022/november/22/20221122-royal-navy-warships-to-receive-harpoon-replacement-from-next-year). *Royal Navy Digital*.
33. . (29 September 2025). ["Royal Navy conducts first live firing of Naval Strike Missile during exercise in Norway’s Arctic"](https://defence-industry.eu/royal-navy-conducts-first-live-firing-of-naval-strike-missile-during-exercise-in-norways-arctic/). *Defence Industry Europe*.
34. Scott, Richard. (5 November 2014). "Precision and lethality".
35. Ege, Rune Thomas. (30 May 2016). "Norges ukjente supervåpen: Marinefartøyene har kryssermissiler".
36. "Naval and Joint Strike Missiles Update Precision Strike Annual Review (PSAR-14)". Kongsberg.
37. "Kongsberg Naval and Joint Strike Missiles Update Precision Strike Annual Review (PSAR-14)".
38. (2025-10-23). "Kongsberg and Thales confirm successful Naval Strike Missile live firing from StrikeMaster launcher in Norway".
39. "Kongsberg Defence Australia to Export Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence System Command and Control Consoles".
40. "MSPO 2017: Kongsberg showcase sub launched NSM {{!}} Shephard".
41. (2024-11-10). "Spain orders feasibility study for NH90 helicopter integration with NSM missile".
42. (2021-11-21). "Det blir ingen undervannsversjon av kryssermissilet NSM i de kommende norske ubåtene". Tu.no.
43. (2025-06-26). "Maritime Strike: Joint Strike Missile as armament for Type 212CD submarines?".
44. (2025-09-11). "Her er Kongsberg-missil montert på P-8 Poseidon for første gang".
45. (2025-05-24). "Skyter liv i bygda – Europas våpenindustri tester missilsystem i hjertet av Finnmark".
46. (2025-07-03). "EuroPULS Raketenartilleriesystem testet Naval Strike Missile".
47. Minister for Defence Peter Dutton. (5 April 2022). "$3.5 billion to accelerate missile strike capabilities for the ADF".
48. (6 June 2024). "HMAS Sydney fitted with Naval Strike Missile". Australian Defence Magazine.
49. (12 December 2022). "Marine krijgt nieuwe antischeepsraketten - Nieuwsbericht - Defensie.nl".
50. "Sjø - Forsvaret.no".
51. (23 November 2022). "Norwegian Naval Strike Missiles to the British Royal Navy".
52. Vavasseur, Xavier. (19 December 2023). "UK Royal Navy Declares IOC with Naval Strike Missile".
53. [https://www.twz.com/sea/navy-destroyer-modified-with-naval-strike-missiles-sailing-in-rimpac-wargames]
54. (1 June 2018). "US Navy selects Naval Strike Missile as new, over-the-horizon weapon".
55. "Naval Strike Missile (NSMTM) Coastal Defence System".
56. (8 May 2019). "Raytheon to Arm Marine Corps with Anti-Ship Missiles in $47M Deal".
57. South, Todd. "This unit will be the next to field the Corps’ ship-killing missile".
58. (4 July 2023). "Signaturene som sikrer en ny bruker av NSM-missilene fra Kongsberg". Teknisk Ukeblad.
59. "Canadian Surface Combatant".
60. (14 February 2025). "Royal Danish Navy Selects NSM – Naval Strike Missile".
61. "Naval News - LIMA 2025: Malaysian Littoral Combat Ship Update".
62. "Janes - Malaysia to incorporate anti-surface missile on Lekiu-class frigate".
63. (9 September 2022). "Spain Selects Naval Strike Missile".
64. (17 August 2022). "Nok en gang har det sneket seg inn en ny missilkunde til Kongsberg under radaren".
65. Carrasco, Benjamín. (23 November 2022). "NSM, el nuevo misil antibuque para las fragatas de la Armada española".
66. InfoDefensa, Revista Defensa. "España comprará 120 misiles antibuque NSM para las fragatas F-110 y las F100 actualizadas".
67. (2025-12-17). "Küstenschutz – Dänemark beschafft Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence System".
68. Adamowski, Jaroslaw. (5 May 2023). "Latvian government approves $110 million Naval Strike Missile buy".
69. Adamowski, Jaroslaw. (14 February 2023). "Latvia to boost defense spending with naval missile, HIMARS deals".
70. ""Romanian government approves Naval Strike Missile buy"".
71. Dalløkken, Per Erlien. (3 May 2021). "Beskytter Østersjøen i dag – nå skal norske missiler også utplasseres ved Svartehavet".
72. (6 January 2023). "Raytheon To Supply NSM Coastal Defense System To Romania". Naval News.
73. (9 February 2022). "Makin Sangar, Rudal Berdaya Tembak 250 Km Perkuat Kapal Perang TNI AL".
74. Ozberk, Tayfun. (15 February 2022). "Indonesian Navy Set To Procure Missile Boats Armed With NSM".
75. Jennings, Gareth. (25 March 2020). "Indian MH-60R helos to be Saudi-standard, plus national mods".
76. (6 December 2024). "Second-Long-Range Fires Regiment approved". Australian Defence Magazine.
77. (4 December 2024). "Missiles launched from Bushmaster vehicles could soon be operated by the Australian army". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
78. "България купува ракети от САЩ да се пазим от руски кораби. Отказваме се от HIMARS".
79. Capital.bg. (2025-07-22). "Противокорабни ракети NSM за 1 млрд. лв. ще купи България от САЩ".
80. Times, The Rio. (2023-09-14). "Navantia Adds NSM Missile to S-80 Sub".
81. InfoDefensa, Revista Defensa. "La Armada elige el misil antibuque NSM para el submarino S-80, tras descartar el sub-Harpoon".
82. (2025-06-17). "Dutch submarines to get European Tomahawk alternative; Military buying Israeli missiles {{!}} NL Times".