The Royal Navy (RN) has successfully completed the first firing of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from its HMS Somerset Type 23 frigate in a Nato exercise carried out in Norwegian seas. The joint exercise was carried out alongside Norwegian and Polish units, with the weapon already in service in both countries, along with the US... Continues below

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The NSM launch highlights the ongoing close collaboration between the UK and Norway, and follows closely behind Norway’s recent selection of the UK’s BAE Systems’ Type 26 anti-submarine frigate in a £10 billion (US$13.5 billion) deal. A key advantage of the decision, according to both countries, was to bolster defences against Russia by operating a single frigate type in the North Atlantic Ocean.

The successful firing is another major milestone in the international partnership, with Luke Pollard, minister for defence readiness and industry, noting that the missile will give both the Royal Navy and its allies “an edge against our enemies”.

“This milestone, achieved through our exemplary international partnership with Norway, significantly enhances our maritime deterrent and underscores the government’s dedication to investing in the technologies that will maintain Britain’s secure,” he added.

Hailed a more lethal weapon for the forces, the anti-ship and land-attack missile is designed to strike heavily defended land and sea targets, with a range of more than 100 miles. It can travel at speeds of up to Mach 1.

Manufactured by Kongsberg, the NSM has been described as the world’s first fifth-generation long-range precision-strike missile. It can be configured to sea-skim if required, and according to the manufacturer the missile’s defence penetration capability and its passive infrared seeker in the stabilised nose was integral to its superiority over previous missile types.

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Global demand for the NSM has been on the rise, with contracts being signed this year by Malaysia and Denmark, while Kongsberg Defence Australia announced in March that it would set up its first factory producing NSMs outside of Norway at Newcastle Airport, Australia.

The missile platform is notably used in Poland for its land-based coastal defence system, with the Polish Ministry of National Defence awarding Kongsberg a NOK16 billion (US$1.49 billion) contract to deliver four NMS coastal defence system (CDS) squadrons. As noted in Shephard Defence Insight, Poland was the first nation to acquire this capability in 2008, adding an additional squadron in 2014, with the new deliveries expected to run through into the 2030s.

Commenting on this month’s NSM launch, Shephard Defence Insight naval analyst William Lupton said: “The test firing of the NSM by the Royal Navy further demonstrates the commitment between the UK and Norway to continuing their strategic collaboration.

“It showcases how the two naval fleets can potentially operate together in the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean, especially with the planned 13 identical Type 26 frigates that will be deployed between both navies in the future.”

Along with the HMS Somerset, the NSM is currently fitted to the UK’s HMS Richmond and HMS Portland, both Type 23 frigates.

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