Kongsberg Defence Australia has secured a pair of contracts to deliver Australian-made Naval Strike Missile (NSM) launchers and command-and-control consoles to European nations.
Under a 50-million Australian dollar ($32-million) contract, Kongsberg Defence Australia will supply NSM launchers to Spain and Denmark.
This is the first time NSM launchers have been produced outside of Europe and the US.
Kongsberg Defence Australia has also secured a 30-million Australian dollar ($19.5-million) contract to supply NSM Coastal Defence System command-and-control consoles to Poland.
The deal builds on Warsaw’s 2023 purchase of NSM systems worth 8 billion Polish zloty ($2.19 billion) to strengthen its coastal defense, which included missiles, command vehicles, launchers, and simulators.
“The Albanese Government’s efforts to support Australia’s sovereign defence manufacturing industry have reaped further benefits with these significant export deals,” Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said.
“This is an exciting milestone for Australia’s sovereign defence manufacturing industry and a proud moment for Australian businesses to enter the global supply chain for missile manufacturing.”
First NSM Launcher Outside Europe, the US
Both the launcher systems and command-and-control consoles will be built using Australian-made components and will be assembled and tested at the company’s production and maintenance facility in Mawson Lakes, South Australia.
Aerobond Defence will supply launcher canisters, while QPE Advanced Machining will manufacture complex precision-machined components for the launcher. Both firms are based in Adelaide.
Additional companies in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney will provide components and subsystems for both contracts, which are expected to create 60 highly skilled jobs at Kongsberg Defence Australia and across its local supply chain.
Global Supply Chain Program
These export deals have been made possible through Australia’s NSM procurement program, which included an agreement for components to be manufactured domestically.
Through the Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program, Canberra aims to expand the number of Australian suppliers and create export opportunities within the global networks of major defense companies.
“Kongsberg Defence Australia’s ability to export advanced launcher technology supports not only our local growth, but also strengthens the resilience of Australia’s strategic industrial base, establishes a second source of supply, and reinforces our role as a trusted contributor to the NSM capability,” GSC Program Manager for Kongsberg Defence Australia, Erin Hamblin, said.
A replacement for the Harpoon anti-ship missile, the NSM is being integrated onto the Royal Australian Navy’s ANZAC-class frigates and Hobart-class destroyers.
