Kongsberg and Thales' StrikeMaster launcher has played a role in a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) training exercise in Northern Europe, with the capability deployed to an island in the Arctic Ocean 600km from Iceland.
“This is a clear recognition of the ‘ready now’ capability of the StrikeMaster platform. Our proven Bushmaster vehicle combined with Kongberg's in-service Naval Strike Missile allows the coastal defence system to provide deterrence right now – in this instance, for NATO," Thales Australia and New Zealand, CEO, Jeff Connolly, said.
StrikeMaster is an Australian-designed coastal defence platform that combines Kongsberg's Naval Strike Missile (NSM) with Thales Australia's Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle.
"Operation Atlantic City has clearly demonstrated the deployability, flexibility and utility of StrikeMaster and its ground launch application of the proven Naval Strike Missile which has been selected or fielded by a dozen NATO nations and partners. This leading land based maritime strike capability, made in Australia, is a highly capable and cost effective for defence of national interest through deterrence. StrikeMaster is mobile, survivable, and lethal," Kongsberg Australia, Managing Director, John Fry, said.
StrikeMaster is participating in Operation Atlantic City, a NATO training exercise involving US, UK and Norwegian forces being conducted on and around the remote Norwegian territory of Jan Mayen, as part of Arctic Sentry, NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity for the High North of Europe.
According to the company, the deployment to Jan Mayen highlights the system's ability to operate where logistics, weather and terrain place significant demands on personnel and equipment.
Operating StrikeMaster in these conditions provides an opportunity to validate its deployability, mobility and integration with NATO forces.