Raytheon and Kongsberg have entered a teaming agreement for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) that will help the companies to offer offensive anti-surface warfare (OASuW) solutions to several governments.
This agreement is the second such partnership between the companies, which collaborated last year to develop the Joint Strike Missile, the air-launched version of the NSM.
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Raytheon Missile Systems president Dr Taylor Lawrence said: "Raytheon and Kongsberg have a proud history of consistent partnerships to produce and improve the world’s most trusted weapon systems.
"This agreement enables us to bring a complete suite of solutions to the warfighter for the critical OASuW mission."
NSM is an anti-ship and land attack cruise and a successor to the Penguin anti-ship missile. It is claimed to be the only fifth generation long-range precision strike missile in the world.
Currently serving as the main weapon for Norway’s new frigates and corvettes as well as Poland’s land-based coastal defence, NSM is capable of striking land and sea targets with a range in excess of 200km.
Developed to provide penetration capability against enemy air defence systems, NSM features an advanced imaging infrared Sseeker with autonomous target recognition and can fly at extremely low sea-skimming altitude and has terrain-following flight capability.
The US Department of Navy (DoN) is developing the OASuW weapon system or systems solution for air and/or surface launch in the maritime battle space environment.
Incorporating new technologies to support an increased offensive strike capability, the weapon system will serve as a crucial component of the Joint Force anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capability.
The DoN expects the system to achieve an initial operational capability (IOC) by 2024.
Image: A Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) launched from the US Navy littoral combat ship, USS Coronado (LCS-4). Photo: courtesy of US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary D Bell.
