Australian Navy rehearses loading NSM onto Anzac frigates

Inert Operational Missile on the wharf in front of HMAS Ballarat during Naval Strike Missile Handling training at Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia.

Kongsberg recently provided training for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on how to load Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) onto its Anzac-class frigates, as the missile begins replacing the Harpoon anti-ship missile in Australia.  The loading rehearsal with an inert missile occurred at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia on 5 September.

HMAS Ballarat sailors, as well as personnel from Thales Explosive Ordnance Services, received instruction on the correct procedures for dockside handling and ship loading of the NSM and associated Launcher Missile Modules (LMM).

The NSM is replacing Harpoon missiles on Australian Anzac-class frigates and Hobart-class destroyers under Project Sea 1300 Phase 1, plus it will equip Hunter-class frigates. HMAS Ballarat is the sixth of eight Anzac-class frigates, but it is unclear whether it is the first to be armed with the NSM.

This training event was thus an important part of the wider effort to roll out and integrate the NSM onto the RAN’s surface combatant fleet, as crews learn how to proficiently and safely deploy these missiles under operational conditions. Each frigate will boast two quad-pack launchers.

HMAS Ballarat sailors connect the Mounting Frame to a crane during Naval Strike Missile Handling training at Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia.

John Fry, General Manager of Kongsberg Defence Australia, had recently told Naval News, “The program is progressing well. An NSM capability will be introduced into RAN service by the end of 2024 as planned.” He added, “In delivering the NSM capability to navy, Kongsberg has contracted Australian companies to manufacture components for ship-installed equipment and the launcher components which are part of the NSM all-up round.”

For example, via a contract announced last September, Australian firm Marand began producing structural launcher frames and rails for the LMM. Earlier, in February 2023, Marand had been awarded a contract for launcher ramp systems. Last October, Marand successfully passed a factory acceptance test for production of the first-of-type launcher ramp. Fry commented at the time, “We’ll manufacture almost all the launcher ramp systems in Australia, demonstrating Kongsberg’s commitment to maximizing local content and generating domestic manufacturing capability.”

Incidentally, marking an important milestone in Australia’s programme, the destroyer HMAS Sydney fired an NSM for the first time on 18 July during RIMPAC 2024. This occurred off the coast of Oahu in Hawaii.

The NSM is a key missile for the Australian Navy, as illustrated by Kongsberg Defence Australia establishing a new missile production facility in the New South Wales city of Newcastle. Construction of Kongsberg’s commercially owned, commercially operated facility is scheduled to commence before year’s end, benefitting from up to A$850 million (US$578 million) in government funding.

The factory will produce and service both NSMs and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM), the first such plant outside Norway to do so. A Kongsberg Defence Australia spokesperson told Naval News: “It’ll take approximately 18 months to build, and we expect the factory to be complete in Q2 2026.” Subsequently, it will undergo a commissioning and certification process, with “the commencement of missile manufacturing from 2027, ramping up the capability for full-rate production by the end of 2028”. Kongsberg’s spokesperson added, “The facility is being established with the Australian Defence Force as the priority customer, but there’s expected to be capacity to support regional customers in the future.”

On 5 September, the same day as the NSM loading exercise, Australia announced it would procure Kongsberg’s JSM from 2025 under a fast-tracked contract worth A$142 million. Fry noted, “JSM is an air-launched fifth-generation cruise missile designed to defeat highly protected maritime and land targets. It was designed specifically to be carried in the internal weapon bays of the F-35A, enabling the aircraft to maintain its range and stealth characteristics.”

Significantly, Kongsberg has been admitted as a third strategic partner under Australia’s Guided Weapons Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise too. GWEO is the agency charged with expanding Australia’s sovereign weapons production capacity, so this gives Kongsberg a seat at the table alongside Lockheed Martin Australia and Raytheon Australia as a strategic partner.

“This is a significant military and industrial capability that’s being delivered to Australia. Strategic partnership provides a platform for active engagement and ongoing collaboration for the manufacture and maintenance of these weapons, increased supply chain involvement, and the ongoing development and upgrade of these capabilities.” Kongsberg Defence Australia

The NSM is one of four weapons prioritized by GWEO for domestic production, the others being the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) and 155mm artillery ammunition.