KONGSBERG and Thales report successful live firing of a Naval Strike Missile test munition from the StrikeMaster vehicle in Norway on 22 October 2025. The test used a blast test vehicle, a munition that contains the missile’s boost rocket motor, to confirm safe launch from Thales Australia’s Bushmaster utility variant fitted with a twin-pack NSM launcher.
The Naval Strike Missile, a fifth-generation stealth cruise missile intended for maritime strike and land attack against defended targets, is in service or selected by 14 countries, including Norway, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The NSM entered service with the Royal Australian Navy in 2024 and is already deployed in land-based strike configurations with Poland and the US Marine Corps.
StrikeMaster is KONGSBERG’s Australian configuration of the NSM Coastal Defence System, mounting the launcher and associated fire control and resupply vehicles on the Bushmaster protected mobility platform. The arrangement is similar to the launcher used by the USMC’s NMESIS program, which is currently being deployed in the region.
📌 Kongsberg and Thales report successful live firing of a Naval Strike Missile test munition from the StrikeMaster vehicle in Norway.
🔗 https://t.co/9glMMHz4U0@kongsbergasa – @KOGDefence – @thalesgroup pic.twitter.com/FxxFp07WyD
— Defensehere (@defensehere_en) October 24, 2025
KONGSBERG and Thales say the StrikeMaster NSM CDS will be produced in Australia across facilities in Adelaide and Bendigo, drawing on more than 150 local suppliers and creating or retaining about 700 jobs. KONGSBERG also plans to manufacture NSMs at a new missile factory under construction near Newcastle, with deliveries from that site expected to begin in 2027.
Kongsberg Defence Australia’s Managing Director John Fry said, “This firing is a clear demonstration of StrikeMaster’s capability, providing assurance in the launcher’s reliability and performance, and confirming its suitability for Australia and other nations. Our collaboration with Thales Australia enables us to offer the proven and fielded NSM CDS capability in a mobile, protected, and locally built configuration that aligns with the force structure of Australia and other nations.”
Thales Australia Chief Executive Officer Jeff Connolly said, “This successful live-fire proves the combination of the NSM and Bushmaster can provide a potent land based maritime-strike capability for Australia and our allies, and it will be made right here in Australia – supporting a sovereign industrial base.”
📌 Kongsberg and Thales report successful live firing of a Naval Strike Missile test munition from the StrikeMaster vehicle in Norway.
🔗 https://t.co/9glMMHz4U0@kongsbergasa – @KOGDefence – @thalesgroup pic.twitter.com/yGOx36gMO6
— Defensehere (@defensehere_en) October 24, 2025