Royal Navy Type-23 Frigate, HMS Somerset (F82) conducted the first British test fire of a Naval Strike missile off the coast of Andøya Norway. The live fire took place during Operation Aegir 25, with British, Norwegian, and Polish Forces taking part.
This launch marks the first instance of a Naval platform in Royal Navy service launching the Kongsberg manufactured Naval Strike Missile,marking an enhancement of the Royal Navy’s Maritime Strike capabilities.
Retrofit efforts onboard the HMS Somerset have been ongoing since January of 2023, with Naval News previously reporting on the beginning of the overhaul slated to initially fit the missiles. However, the Somerset and the respective efforts to pair her with the NSM were delayed repeatedly due to persistent defects plaguing her re-entry into service. HMS Somerset would fully return to service in September of 2024, marking the first Royal Navy ship to be fitted and deployed with the NSM.
The live firing that took place marks yet another milestone claimed by the Somerset, and represents ongoing modernization efforts undertaken by the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy has also reported that alongside the Somerset, the Type-23 Frigates HMS Portland (F79) and HMS Richmond (F239) have been mounted with the NSM, with the rest of the Royal Navy’s Type-23 Frigates and Type-45 destroyers to follow suit.
The Royal Navy has slated the NSM to replace aging RGM-84 Harpoon Anti-Ship missile variants previously mounted on Royal Navy surface vessels. Ongoing endeavors to phase out the Harpoon within the Royal Navy mirrors efforts taken on by contemporary forces, with the NSM becoming increasingly common among Western Navies.
About the Naval Strike Missile
The NSM offers a considerable upgrade over previous anti-ship missiles in Western service. Boasting an advanced seeker featuring infrared imaging, inertial guidance, and GPS/terrain-reference navigation along side a range of over 100 nautical miles, the NSM provides advanced anti-surface capabilities.
The United States (Navy and Marine Corps), Norway, Australia, Poland, the Netherlands, and now the Royal Navy have all put the NSM into service, with additional countries scheduled to adopt the missile. A variety of land and sea based platforms can launch the NSM, providing an increased degree of flexibility.
The Naval Strike Missile has also provided a basis for it’s multi-role sibling the Joint Strike Missile, with an enhanced emphasis on land-attack capabilities and integration onto aircraft such as Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II. Kongsberg is also developing a submarine-launched variant.
