LCS to be fitted with Kongsberg strike missile system

A Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) is launched from the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) during missile testing operations off the coast of Southern California last year. The missile scored a direct hit on a mobile ship target

MAY 6, 2016 — A deployed U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship is to be fitted with a Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) system for a Phase II testing of the long range precision strike missile.

In Phase I of the testing, on September 23 last year the crew of USS Coronado (LCS 4) successfully performed a live-fire demonstration of the Norwegian-made NSM and scored a direct hit on the intended target, a mobile ship target (MST).

The testing was intended to show the LCS’ ability to readily accept new weapons systems.After that test, Vice Adm. Thomas Rowden, Commander, Naval Surface Forces, said, “We view this successful missile test as a possible future warfighting capability for the LCS program.”

For this new Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Phase II demonstration test, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS is to be awarded a sole source contract for equipment and flight test support services. in support of the test.

Kongsberg will supply missiles, ship equipment including deck mounted launchers, installation and integration. The FCT Phase II program also provides for training and a training facility. This NSM FCT Phase II test effort is scheduled to be completed by the final quarter of Fiscal Year 2018 (July-September2018).

“We are very pleased that the U.S. Navy continues and expands the test and evaluation of the NSM missile,” says Harald Ånnestad, President Kongsberg Defence Systems. “The NSM is operational in the Norwegian and Polish Navies from both ships and land based coastal defenses. It is an off-the-shelf and non-developmental fifth generation strike missile system that can be rapidly deployed for operational use.”