Australia’s StrikeMaster Successfully Fires Naval Strike Missile

THALES Australia’s StrikeMaster missile launch vehicle successfully launched a Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) test munition in Norway, demonstrating the Bushmaster Utility variant’s suitability as an NSM launch platform as a low-risk solution to deliver on Australia’s long range strike requirements. The test munition, known as a blast test vehicle (BTV) comprises the missile’s boost rocket motor and is used to confirm the safe launch of the NSM.

Kongsberg’s NSM is an advanced, fifth generation, stealth cruise missile designed for both maritime strike and land attack against heavily defended targets. It has been selected by, or under delivery to, 14 nations including Norway, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, where it entered service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 2024. The NSM itself can be deck launched from ships or fired from trucks as part of the NSM Coastal Defence System (CDS) without modification. NSM is currently used in a land based strike configuration with Poland and the US Marine Corps (USMC), and has been selected by three other NATO nations.

StrikeMaster is KONGSBERG’s Australian configuration of the NSM CDS, using Thales Australia’s proven Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle as the platform for a twin pack NSM launcher. The configuration is similar to the launcher used by the USMC’s NMESIS Ground Based Anti-Ship Missile program, which is currently being deployed in the region. The StrikeMaster NSM CDS solution also includes a Fire Control Centre and Missile Re-supply Vehicle, both using the Bushmaster Platform.

The StrikeMaster NSM CDS system will be built in Australia, across Kongsberg Defence Australia and Thales Australia’s factories in Adelaide and Bendigo while the NSM will soon be manufactured in the Kongsberg Missile Factory which is under construction near Newcastle, with NSM deliveries from the site commencing in 2027.

Kongsberg Defence Australia’s Managing Director John Fry said, “This firing is a clear demonstration of StrikeMaster’s capability, providing assurance in the launcher’s reliability and performance, and confirming its suitability for Australia and other nations. Our collaboration with Thales Australia enables us to offer the proven and fielded NSM CDS capability in a mobile, protected, and locally built configuration that aligns with the force structure of Australia and other nations.”

Thales Australia’s CEO Jeff Connolly added, ‘This successful live-fire proves the combination of the NSM and Bushmaster can provide a potent land based maritime-strike capability for Australia and our allies, and it will be made right here in Australia – supporting a sovereign industrial base.”–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:KONGSBERG)