The RGM‑184 Naval Strike Missile (NSM) is an advanced anti‑ship and land‑attack missile developed by Kongsberg Defence Aerospace (KDA). Incorporating cutting‑edge technology, the NSM provides the Royal Australian Navy with a significantly enhanced maritime strike capability and will replace the ageing Harpoon missile system.

In July 2024, the Hobart class destroyer HMAS Sydney successfully fired the NSM during Exercise RIMPAC 2024, hosted by the United States Navy off Hawaii.

The NSM’s state‑of‑the‑art design uses composite materials to deliver sophisticated stealth characteristics. Weighing just over 400 kg (880 lb), the missile has a range exceeding 185 km(115 mi; 100 nmi) and is suitable for operations in littoral (“brown water”), near‑shore (“green water”), and open‑ocean (“blue water”) environments. Its high‑strength titanium alloy blast fragmentation warhead aligns with modern lightweight construction and incorporates insensitive high explosives for improved safety.

Kongsberg Defence Australia is working closely with Australian industry, generating local jobs and strengthening sovereign industrial capability. The company has secured two major export contracts worth a combined $80 million, resulting in missile launchers and command‑and‑control consoles being manufactured in South Australia and exported to Poland, Spain, and Denmark. These deals mark a significant milestone for Australia’s guided weapons manufacturing program.

A new Kongsberg facility is being constructed in Newcastle, supporting an $850 million missile manufacturing partnership with Kongsberg Defence Australia. This project will create hundreds of jobs in the Hunter region and is expected to inject approximately $100 million into the local economy. The site will become the second factory in the world to produce both the Joint Strike Missile and the Naval Strike Missile.

The Hunter region missile manufacturing hub represents a deepening of Australia’s defence partnership with Norway. It will supply missiles to the Australian Defence Force and create new export opportunities to trusted international partners.

Specifications

• Function: Anti-ship cruise missile
• Manufacturer: Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace
• Power plant: Microturbo TRI-40 turbojet with solid rocket booster
• Weight: 400 kg with booster
• Wingspan: 1.36 m (wings deployed)
• Length: 3.96 m with booster
• Range: >185 km
• Speed: Mach 0.93 (316 m/s)
• Usage:  Naval ships, land-based vehicles