Navy Selects Naval Strike Missile to Transform Long-Distance Defense Strategies
The U.S. Navy has selected the Naval Strike Missile from Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Kongsberg Gruppen to address its over-the-horizon requirements for littoral combat vessels and forthcoming frigates.
The Naval Strike Missile will significantly enhance the U.S. Navy’s vision of distributed lethality, ensuring maritime superiority and freedom of navigation.
Raytheon will manufacture and deliver over-the-horizon weapon systems under a $14.8 million contract for offensive missiles integrated within launch systems, along with a singular fire control suite. This agreement contains options that, if executed, could raise the total worth to $847.6 million.
The NSM is a long-range precision missile engineered to target heavily fortified land and marine assets. It can outmaneuver enemy defenses from distances of up to 100 nautical miles, employing sophisticated seeker and target identification technologies.
“Raytheon and Kongsberg are delivering the Navy a proven, off-the-shelf solution that exceeds the requirements for the over-the-horizon mission,” stated Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. “Being operational now, the NSM saves the United States billions in developmental costs and promotes new high-tech job opportunities domestically.”
Raytheon will produce NSM launchers, missiles, and various components in the U.S. Manufacturing of launchers has begun at its facility in Louisville, Kentucky, with final assembly and testing of missiles taking place at its Tucson, Arizona location. This contract will benefit over two dozen American suppliers. The missile program is the latest achievement in a longstanding partnership with trusted ally Norway and its defense leader Kongsberg.
“Raytheon and Kongsberg are commemorating 50 years of collaboration, and the selection of the NSM marks yet another successful milestone in our robust alliance,” remarked Eirik Lie, president of Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace AS. “We take pride in providing the U.S. Navy a distinct solution, merging the capabilities of NSM with Raytheon’s expertise as the leading missile manufacturer globally.”
