Editorial: Will the US Buy the Naval Strike Missile?

By Franz-Stefan Gady

The US Navy is still looking to buy an anti-ship missile to implement its new surface warfare strategy.

Norwegian and U.S. defense contractors will team up to pitch an anti-ship missile to the U.S. Navy, according to media reports. The Norway-based Kongsberg Gruppen arms supplier and the U.S. missile manufacturer Raytheon have joined forces to try to convince the navy to acquire the fifth-generation over-the-horizon Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) for its new Littoral Combats Ships (LCS).

The NSM is already in production in Norway and in use on Norwegian frigates and corvettes, according to Defense News. However, “the missile could be built and assembled in America if the U.S. buys the weapon for the LCS,” the article notes. Additionally, Defense News notes that the missile could be a cost-effective option for the U.S., as “the Norwegian government has already borne the costs for developing the NSM.”

Harald Ånnestad, the Executive Vice President of Kongsberg Gruppen told reporters last week, “Our missile is competing very well, compared to other missiles when it comes to price per missile. The price will vary a lot if you buy ten or if you buy 400 missiles.”

Read the full story at The Diplomat