Naval Strike Missile successfully fired at RIMPAC

A successful firing of the Naval Strike Missile, made by Kongsberg Defence Australia under Project SEA 1300 Phase 1 – Navy Guided Weapons, took place during Exercise RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) 2024 off the Hawaiian islands.

According to a statement from Defence on Monday, it represents a major milestone by the Royal Australian Navy in integrating enhanced lethality strike capabilities into the surface combatant fleet and “towards achieving the objectives of the National Defence Strategy by enhancing Defence’s integrated, focused force”.

The firing by guided missile destroyer HMAS Sydney (pictured) took place “during a simulated activity which tested the sinking of Ex-USS Tarawa LHA1.”

Kongsberg’s NSM is described as a fifth-generation, long-range strike weapon which can be used as both an anti-ship and land attack cruise missile. Australian companies in the supply chain include Marand Precision Engineering, Aerobond, Australian Precision Technologies, Nupress Group, Axiom Precision Manufacturing, and Stahl Metall.

“This firing was an excellent example of Defence, our international partners and Australian industry working together to accelerate the delivery of new capability to promote regional stability,” said defence industry minister Pat Conroy.

“Australia’s strategic environment is changing rapidly, the introduction of Naval Strike Missile allows our Navy’s surface ships to conduct long range maritime strike and delivers on our promise to increase the capability and lethality of our Navy.” 

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond added: “Multi-domain strike capabilities including Naval Strike Missile are foundational to deterring any potential adversary’s attempts to project power against Australia.”

Naval Strike Missiles are replacing the Harpoon weapon system.

Picture: credit LSIS Daniel Goodman/Defence

Further reading

Kongsberg to supply missile system consoles

Kongsberg speeds construction of manufacturing centre

QPE to supply missile launcher components to Kongsberg

Stahl Metall to make cable assemblies for the Naval Strike Missile