Kongsberg has completed a Blast Test Vehicle (BTV) firing using the first Naval Strike Missile (NSM) launcher manufactured in Australia.
The BTV incorporated an NSM Booster Rocket Motor and a dummy missile to test the full functionality of the launcher in a live-firing event.
The demo was conducted at the Commonwealth Joint Proofing Experimental Unit in Port Wakefield, South Australia.
Kongsberg Defence Australia’s Managing Director, John Fry, said that the test “is a key milestone in the delivery of the NSM capability to the Royal Australian Navy.”
Locally Produced Components
Showcasing the test as a turning point for its domestic supply chain capabilities, Fry added that the event “allows Kongsberg Defence Australia to commence full-rate production of Australian-made NSM launchers for the NSM program.”
The launcher components were produced by various small-medium Australian companies.
The canister was manufactured by Aerobond Defence in Adelaide, while the frame and rail were supplied by Marand Precision Engineering in Melbourne.
Other parts were provided by Australian Precision Technologies and QPE Advanced Machining.
Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance
Canberra seeks to advance its local military production capacity for manufacturing guided weapons and explosive ordnance (GWEO).
In 2023, the country issued a fund of $4.1 billion to accelerate the GWEO program and in 2021 it launched the Project SEA 1300 Phase 1, to enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s guided weapons capabilities under a $1 billion investment.
