The US Navy has awarded Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace a $45.5-million contract to deliver the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System to Latvia.
The contract was issued through the foreign military sales mechanism and includes options that could raise the total value to $56.3 million.
Most of the work will be carried out in Kongsberg, Norway, with completion expected by July 2030. If all options are exercised, work will continue through November 2031.
Earlier, Latvia and the US signed a $105-million agreement in 2023 for the purchase of the coastal defense system, under which Washington will cover 70 percent of the total cost.
The deal is part of the Latvian parliament’s amendments to the Law on Financing National Defense, aimed at boosting military spending on coastal and air defense systems as well as artillery.
Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System
The ground-based system consists of Kongsberg’s advanced fire control center (FCC), Naval Strike Missile launcher units, and an integrated sea surveillance and tracking radar.
The FCC provides fire control and battle management through integrated command, control, communications, and information systems.
A network of up to four FCCs can create a single maritime picture, enhancing situational awareness through real-time data sharing. Each FCC can authorize the launch of up to 12 missiles, either against multiple threats or concentrated on a single target.
The missile can engage both sea and land targets at ranges exceeding 100 nautical miles (185 kilometers/161 miles). It carries a 226-kilogram (500-pound) class warhead and features sea-skimming flight and terminal maneuvering capabilities.
