Australia purchases Norwegian NSM anti-ship missiles

Australian destroyers and frigates will be armed with the new NSM anti-ship missiles.

The Kongsberg reports about this.

Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) has signed an initial contract valued at MNOK 489 (AUD 71 million) with the Commonwealth of Australia for Naval Strike Missile (NSM) capability.

On 5 April 2022, the Federal Government announced the accelerated acquisition of the NSM to replace the Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile on the Royal Australian Navy’s ANZAC Class Frigates and HOBART Class Destroyers.

Naval Strike Missile (NSM) is a subsonic anti-ship missile capable of hitting surface and ground targets.

The 4m long ammunition with a weight of 410 kg has a combined warhead and is equipped with a target recognition system.

The Naval Strike Missile is equipped with a TRI-40 turbojet engine and a solid rocket booster.

The maximum launch range is over 185 km, and the weight of the penetrating high-explosive warhead is 120 kg.

These missiles are in service with the armed forces of Norway, Poland, Germany, Malaysia, and the USA.

As previously reported, last year, it was reported that Australia will receive Tomahawk cruise missiles of American production.

The purchase of weapons is conducted within the framework of the AUKUS defense alliance, the creation of which Australia, the USA, and Great Britain announced on September 15. Tomahawk cruise missiles will be installed on Hobart-class destroyers.

In July 2021, the Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth (FFH 157) was launched following an upgrade.