The Royal Australian Navy has achieved a major milestone in integrating enhanced lethality strike capabilities into the surface combatant fleet as directed by Government. Hobart class destroyer, HMAS Sydney, has conducted a successful firing of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), Navy’s replacement for the ageing Harpoon weapon system. The firing was conducted during Exercise RIMPAC 2024, being hosted by the United States Navy off Hawaii, during a simulated activity which tested the sinking of Ex-USS Tarawa LHA1. This is a major milestone towards achieving the objectives of the National Defence Strategy by enhancing Defence’s integrated, focused force, and a great example of Defence’s collaboration with industry and international partners. HMAS Sydney – built at Osborne in South Australia – is a guided missile destroyer that can provide air defence and maritime protection for accompanying ships, land forces and infrastructure in coastal areas.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:“This collaboration between Defence and industry partner Kongsberg Defence Australia, along with local Australian companies such as Marand, Aerobond, Australian Precision Technologies, Nupress Group, Axiom Precision Manufacturing and Stahl Metall, demonstrates the Australian Government’s commitment to working with defence industry to accelerate enhanced lethality capability integration. The National Defence Strategy outlined a strategy of denial as the cornerstone of Defence planning to prevent any potential adversary from succeeding in coercing Australia through force, while supporting regional security and prosperity. 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.”
Quotes attributable to the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN: “HMAS Sydney’s firing of Naval Strike Missile during RIMPAC 2024 represents a significant increase in the lethality of our surface fleet, and delivers on our commitment to accelerate the introduction of enhanced lethality strike capabilities. Naval Strike Missile is a key capability for the lethality enhancement and survivability of our ships and enables our ability to hold an adversary at risk at greater range. Multi-domain strike capabilities including Naval Strike Missile are foundational to deterring any potential adversary’s attempts to project power against Australia.”
The Naval Strike Missile (NSM) is an anti-ship and land-attack missile developed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA). The original Norwegian name was Nytt sjømålsmissil (literally “New sea target missile”). The English marketing name Naval Strike Missile was adopted later. The state-of-the-art design and use of composite materials are meant to give the missile sophisticated stealth capabilities. The missile will weigh slightly more than 400 kg (880 lb) and have a range of more than 185 km (115 mi; 100 nmi). NSM is designed for littoral waters (“brown water”) as well as for open sea (“green water and blue water”) scenarios. According to Kongsberg the NSM/JSM had been selected by Norway, Poland, Malaysia, Germany, the United States, Japan, Romania, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Netherlands, Romania and Spain.
