The Royal Navy has carried out the first live firing of its new Naval Strike Missile (NSM), a long-range weapon designed for use against warships and land targets.
The test was conducted by the Plymouth-based frigate HMS Somerset at the Andøya rocket range in northern Norway as part of Exercise Aegir 25, involving Norwegian and Polish forces. The firing represents the first time a Royal Navy vessel has launched the missile, which has a range of more than 100 miles.
The 400kg NSM is being introduced as a replacement for the Harpoon system fitted to Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers. The missile is already in service with the Norwegian, US, and Polish navies.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said:
“The NSM is one of the most advanced missiles in our naval arsenal. It will give the Royal Navy and our 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.”
Commander Matt Millyard, Commanding Officer of HMS Somerset, said:
“I am very proud of the team following the successful first of class firing of the Naval Strike Missile.
This is not something that comes together easily and has involved an incredible amount of work by the crew and staff from across the defence enterprise.
The professionalism and teamwork demonstrated by all throughout the planning and execution has been exemplary.”
The NSM, produced by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, flies at near-supersonic speed and is designed to avoid detection by flying close to the sea surface. It will also complement the future “Cruise Anti-Ship Weapon,” which is planned to arm the Royal Navy’s next-generation Type 26 and Type 31 frigates.
According to Commander Matthew Cox, NSM Programme Director:
“This programme showcases the strong UK-Norwegian strategic partnership, enabling the UK to achieve its first ship installation within 12 months of business case approval – an unprecedented pace for a complex weapons programme.
The UK’s first NSM firing, hosted by Norway at Andøya, further highlights this enduring collaboration.”
Currently, the NSM is installed on HMS Richmond, HMS Somerset, and HMS Portland. Exercise Aegir 25 will continue until the end of September, with additional firings carried out by allied forces, including Norway’s Coastal Ranger Command.