The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) has awarded Kongsberg a contract for four squadrons of Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence Systems (NSM CDSs), the Norwegian company announced on 5 September 2023.
The contract, which is worth around NOK 16 Bn (EUR 1.39 Bn), “is the largest single contract in the history of Kongsberg and is an important milestone in our more than 200-year-long history”, Geir Håøy, Kongsberg President and CEO, was quoted as saying in a company press release.
ESD understands that each NSM CDS squadron in Polish service comprises two batteries each with three self-propelled launchers, totalling 24 NSMs.
The contract is dependent on approved export financing, which is expected to be finalised within a few weeks.
Poland was the first nation to acquire the NSM CDS capability, buying an initial squadron in 2008, after which it purchased an additional squadron in 2014. The latest contract award thus builds on more than a decade of successful co-operation between Kongsberg, the Polish government and Polish defence industry. The new NSM CDS deliveries will carry on into the 2030s.
“Poland has been a longstanding partner and we are proud to sign this agreement,” said Håøy. “With the changed security situation in Europe, Poland is firm in its commitment to ensure important defence capabilities, and for Kongsberg as an industry partner this ensures predictability to invest and continue to build capacity to deliver on these needs.”
Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, added, “The NSM coastal defence system plays a significant role in supporting nations’ ability to defend their territory and citizens. We are proud to support Poland in building up such a capability. The determination demonstrated by the Polish Ministry of National Defence to acquire more NSM CDS is a sign of trust and confirms that our system represents the most effective capability available” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
The Coastal Defence System uses the command-and-control (C2) system of Kongsberg’s National Advanced Surface-to Air Missile System but with NSM control functionality. Polish industry will contribute to significant parts of the NSM CDS units, including the communication system, vehicles and part of the C2 system, as well as taking part in system integration activities.
As part of the contract, Kongsberg will provide training and technical support, including simulators, to enable Polish personnel to conduct maintenance services in Poland.
The NSM can be launched from both land- and sea-based platforms and is already in use by, or under delivery to, 12 countries. Initially developed by Kongsberg for the Royal Norwegian Navy, the NSM is a fifth-generation missile regarded as the most advanced naval strike missile in the world. Its stealthy design makes it difficult to detect and its seeker system enables autonomous target recognition of hostile units at sea or on land.
The NSM, which travels at sea-skimming altitudes and at high subsonic speed, is stated by Kongsberg to have a range in excess of 185 km.
Peter Felstead
