Kongsberg and Thales have announced the successful live-firing of a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) test munition from the StrikeMaster missile launch vehicle in Norway.
"This firing is a clear demonstration of StrikeMaster’s capability, providing assurance in the launcher’s reliability and performance, and confirming its suitability for Australia and other nations. Our collaboration with Thales Australia enables us to offer the proven and fielded NSM CDS capability in a mobile, protected, and locally built configuration that aligns with the force structure of Australia and other nations," Kongsberg Defence Australia’s Managing Director, John Fry said.
The test munition, known as a blast test vehicle (BTV) has comprised the missile’s boost rocket motor and has been used to confirm the safe launch of the NSM.
"This successful live-fire proves the combination of the NSM and Bushmaster can provide a potent land based maritime-strike capability for Australia and our allies, and it will be made right here in Australia – supporting a sovereign industrial base," Thales Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Connelly, stated.
The NSM is an advanced, fifth generation, stealth cruise missile designed for both maritime strike and land attack against heavily defended targets. It has been selected by, or under delivery to, 14 nations including Norway, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, where it entered service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 2024.
The NSM itself can be deck launched from ships or fired from trucks as part of the NSM Coastal Defence System (CDS) without modification. NSM is currently used in a land based strike configuration with Poland and the US Marine Corps (USMC), and has been selected by three other NATO nations.
StrikeMaster is Kongsberg’s Australian configuration of the NSM CDS, using Thales Australia’s Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle as the platform for a twin pack NSM launcher. The configuration is similar to the launcher used by the USMC’s NMESIS Ground Based Anti-Ship Missile program, which is currently being deployed in the region.
The StrikeMaster NSM CDS solution has also included a Fire Control Centre and Missile Re-supply Vehicle, both using the Bushmaster Platform.
The StrikeMaster NSM CDS system will be built in Australia, across Kongsberg Defence Australia and Thales Australia’s factories in Adelaide and Bendigo.