Kongsberg Showcase Sub Launched NSM

11 September 2017

Submarine launched Kongsberg NSM (photo : Shephard)

Displaying its submarine-launched variant of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Kongsberg officials said that while it was not targeted at a specific national maritime requirement, it demonstrated the continued development of the system.

Well matured at this point, the NSM has been under development by Raytheon and Kongsberg for a number of years. In 2014 the system performed a launch test from the USS Coronado as part of demonstrations for the US Navy. 

The missile followed the pre-planned trajectory towards a target ship at 100nm; locating and hitting the target at the pre-selected hit point.

In 2015 Raytheon and Kongsberg formed a teaming agreement for the NSM, described as the second step in the companies’ efforts to meet ASuW requirements in the international market.

Submarine launched Kongsberg NSM (photo : NavyRecognition)

Speaking to Shephard at MSPO 2017, Kyrre Lohne, VP strategic communications, explained that the development of the submarine variant NSM had been ‘a small path’, adding that the loading and missile delivery booster were the main adaptations to the system.

Although there is no current national requirement for such a submarine-launched capability in Europe, continued developments of programmes ongoing in the region could see a demand for such a capability in future.

The NSM is also being adapted to fit the Norwegian F-35 fighters, providing a long-range air-to-surface capability.

The NSM has an effective range of over 200km against land and sea targets and the main offensive capability for Norwegian and Polish naval and land-based coastal defence.

(Shephard)