**Contract Overview:**
Norwegian defense firm Kongsberg has secured a five-year contract from the U.S. Navy valued at approximately US$900 million. This agreement represents Kongsberg’s largest missile contract to date.
**Missile Details:**
Kongsberg will supply the Naval Strike Missile, which is intended for installation on the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships and Constellation-class frigates. The contract is fixed-price, worth 10 billion Norwegian kroner (around US$896 million), with options that may increase the total value to approximately 12 billion kroner.
**Additional Supply Agreements:**
In addition to the U.S. Navy, Kongsberg will also provide the Naval Strike Missile to the U.S. Marine Corps for use in the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS).
**Production Expansion:**
In September, Kongsberg announced plans to establish a new missile production facility in Virginia due to the growing demand for its Naval Strike Missile and the air-launched Joint Strike Missile. This follows the opening of a new factory in Norway in June and the announcement of a new missile plant in Australia.
**Market Demand and Expansion:**
Eirik Lie, president of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, noted that the contract exemplifies the strong demand for strike missiles among NATO and allied nations. This demand is driving the company’s expansion efforts, including the establishment of factories in Norway, Australia, and the U.S.
**Missile Specifications:**
The Naval Cruise Missile, first deployed by the Norwegian Navy in 2012, has been selected by NATO partners such as Poland, the U.K., Spain, and the Netherlands. Key specifications of the missile include:
– Range: >100 nautical miles (185 kilometers)
– Weight: 407 kilograms
– Length: 3.96 meters (13 feet)
– Autonomous target recognition using a high-resolution imaging infrared seeker
– Capabilities designed for sea-skimming and evading enemy air defenses.
**Author Background:**
Rudy Ruitenberg is a Europe correspondent for Defense News with a background in reporting for Bloomberg News, covering technology, commodity markets, and politics.
