Kongsberg Defence Australia has attained significant contracts to produce Naval Strike Missile (NSM) launchers and command-and-control consoles for European nations, marking a notable expansion of Australia’s role in defense manufacturing. Under a contract valued at 50 million Australian dollars (approximately 32 million US dollars), Kongsberg will supply NSM launchers to Spain and Denmark, representing the first instance of these launchers being produced outside of Europe and the United States.
Additionally, Kongsberg secured a separate contract worth 30 million Australian dollars (around 19.5 million US dollars) to deliver command-and-control consoles for the NSM Coastal Defence System to Poland. This contract builds upon Poland’s earlier purchase of NSM systems, which cost 8 billion Polish zloty (roughly 2.19 billion US dollars), aimed at enhancing the country’s coastal defense capabilities, encompassing missiles, command vehicles, launchers, and simulators.
The Australian Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, commended the partnership, stating, “The Albanese Government’s efforts to support Australia’s sovereign defence manufacturing industry have reaped further benefits with these significant export deals.” He lauded the contracts as a pivotal achievement for Australian businesses, marking their entry into the global missile manufacturing supply chain.
Both the launcher units and command-and-control consoles are set to be constructed using locally sourced components, with assembly and testing occurring at Kongsberg’s production and maintenance facility located in Mawson Lakes, South Australia. Notable local suppliers include Aerobond Defence, which will provide launcher canisters, and QPE Advanced Machining, responsible for producing precision-machined components. These initiatives are expected to create approximately 60 highly skilled jobs within Kongsberg Defence Australia and its local supply chain.
The momentum for these export agreements has been fostered through Australia’s NSM procurement program, which includes an understanding that components will be manufactured domestically. The Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program aims to broaden the Australian supplier base and generate export opportunities within the networks of prominent defense companies. Erin Hamblin, GSC Program Manager for Kongsberg Defence Australia, emphasized that the successful export of advanced launcher technology supports local growth, enhances the robustness of Australia’s strategic industrial base, and fortifies the nation’s standing as a trusted contributor to the NSM capability.
As a contemporary counterpart to the Harpoon anti-ship missile, the NSM is currently being integrated onto the Royal Australian Navy’s ANZAC-class frigates and Hobart-class destroyers, reinforcing both national and allied maritime defense capabilities.
