The Dutch Ministry of Defense has ordered Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) from the Norwegian supplier Kongsberg to replace the existing Harpoon anti-ship missiles on the anti-aircraft and command frigates (LC frigates). The missiles are to be delivered from 2025, the ministry said, without naming a number.
According to Kongsberg, the NSM is designed at its core for complex threats and warfare environments, making it a fifth-generation long-range precision missile with multiple mission options (anti-ship and land attack) designed to ensure strikes in complex conditions.
The NSM missile system has several advantages over the Harpoon, the ministry writes. Its range is much greater and the missile has an advanced infrared seeker. This makes target detection easier, makes the missile more accurate, and reduces the risk of accidental damage. In addition, the missile is difficult to detect due to its stealth function for enemy ships.
Several NATO partners such as Canada, Germany, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States have also selected the missile. This benefits the cooperation and could lead to economies of scale in the future, e.g. B. through joint procurement, according to the Dutch.
The Bundeswehr ordered the NSM in 2021 to equip the F124, F125 and F126 frigates, which are to be delivered from 2023. Initial operational readiness should be achieved from the mid-2020s.
Editors / gwh
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