Norway and Germany have formed a partnership agreement focused on the maintenance of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM). This collaboration for maintenance was recently initiated in Luxembourg via NATO’s procurement capabilities, specifically through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), under a partnership agreement.
Beyond serving as a pact between Norway and Germany, the partnership agreement also creates opportunities for other countries that have obtained or wish to obtain NSM to seek membership.
“This partnership ensures a cost-effective and sustainable solution for the maintenance of NSM, while strengthening cooperation between allied nations. Through NSPA we gain both economies of scale and a predictable and long-term organization of maintenance and support” said Director Gro Jære of Defence Materiel.
The collaboration of multiple nations in a unified operation and maintenance programme via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency offers significant benefits in various domains, including maintenance, spare parts, documentation, configuration management, and the exchange of data and experiences.
“In addition, it results in significantly lower costs for the individual nation, while placing a clear and long-term responsibility on NSPA”, points out Jære.
Numerous countries have expressed significant interest in joining the partnership, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. The Naval Strike Missile Program Office (NSM PO) within the Norwegian Maritime Department is currently engaged in discussions with the Netherlands and Belgium regarding their potential membership.
Additionally, the Norwegian Maritime Department is exploring partnership agreements for various systems that involve collaboration with other nations utilizing these systems.
Manufactured by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, the NSM is a weapon system that can be deployed from multiple platforms to engage various targets on both land and sea. Its airframe design, combined with a high thrust-to-weight ratio, provides the NSM with remarkable manoeuvrability.
The missile operates entirely passively, demonstrating outstanding sea-skimming abilities, and its sophisticated terminal manoeuvres enable it to evade enemy air defences effectively. The Autonomous Target Recognition (ATR) feature of the seeker guarantees accurate detection, recognition, and engagement of the intended target.
