Missile NSM

The Naval Strike Missile originated in Norway as the successor to the Penguin missile. The initial serial production contract was signed in June 2007, and development milestones concluded in June 2011 following testing at Point Mugu. A second phase of development commenced in April 2011. The system conducted its first firing in October 2012 from a Skjold-class patrol boat, with the first live warhead test against a decommissioned frigate occurring in June 2013.

The system is an anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile designed for littoral and open-sea environments. Propulsion is provided by a solid rocket booster for launch, which is jettisoned after burnout, and a turbojet sustainer engine for high subsonic transit. The missile utilizes a bank-to-turn flight profile and is capable of sea-skimming and navigating over or around landmasses. Terminal phase flight includes random maneuvers to counter defensive systems. Guidance is facilitated by GPS-aided inertial navigation, a laser altimeter, TERCOM, and an imaging infrared seeker. This seeker uses an onboard database for target detection, recognition, and discrimination. The warhead is a titanium-cased penetrating blast and controlled fragmentation unit containing insensitive high-explosives. It employs a void-sensing programmable multi-purpose fuze for use against hardened targets. Launch options include deck-mounted canisters for ships and mobile land-based launchers.

The missile is widely deployed and has been adopted by the navies of Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In United States service, the missile is designated RGM-184A and is integrated into littoral combat ships and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The U.S. Marine Corps utilizes the system within the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, which employs unmanned mobile launch platforms. The Polish Navy operates the missile in a coastal defense role, utilizing batteries consisting of launch vehicles, command vehicles, and radar units. Several other nations, including Canada, Denmark, Malaysia, Romania, and Spain, have selected the system for future use. Testing and operational evaluations have included multiple sinking exercises. During RIMPAC 2014, a Norwegian frigate successfully engaged a target ship. In 2018, U.S. forces conducted a shore-to-ship strike during RIMPAC exercises. The Royal Navy completed its first live firing in 2025 during a NATO exercise.