Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (“KONGSBERG“), together with its German partners Diehl Defence and MBDA Deutschland, have joined forces to ensure the successful development of the future Norwegian-German supersonic attack missile known as 3SM Tyrfing.
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The Norwegian government announced this initiative in November 2023, and the industry team essential for the success of this project has already entered into its partnership agreement.
This partnership, led by KONGSBERG, combines the strengths of these companies and brings together decades of missile development experience to create this highly advanced, long-range, and maneuverable supersonic attack missile for Norwegian and German customers, as well as allied customers in the future.
The team will work closely with the Norwegian and German Defense Forces, as well as their national research organizations, to define and develop the world’s most advanced long-range attack capability designed to counter future surface threats.
“I am very impressed with the depth and capabilities of this team. I look forward to cooperating with Diehl Defence and MBDA Deutschland and combining the knowledge and experience of our teams to develop the 3SM for both nations,” said Eirik Lie, president of Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace.
Thomas Gottschild, Managing Director of MBDA Deutschland, said: “As we have seen over the past 2 years, standoff weapons are crucial for reliable deterrence and defense. The joining of forces between our companies will strengthen the Norwegian, German, and European armed forces, enhancing the defense of our home nations.”
“We are proud to have established a team of the best experts from our companies, who complement each other, trust each other, and contribute their individual knowledge and skills. Together, we will develop a game-changer with the 3SM that none of us could have developed alone,” said Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence.
Technology Dominated by Russia and China
Russia has hypersonic missiles Avangard, Zircon, and Kinzhal, while China has announced the launch of a hypersonic glider from the missile DF-17.
The Zircon reached nine times the speed of sound (11,000 km/h) in tests, was designed as an anti-ship missile, and can also hit land targets.
The Kinzhal, which Russia claims is nearly impossible to detect by radar due to its flight characteristics, reaches speeds of up to 12,350 km/h and has a range of 2,000 km.
Another type of hypersonic missile, the Avangard, is equipped with a gliding warhead. According to Russian propaganda, it can penetrate the US missile defense shield.
On the Chinese side, a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, the DF-17, was reportedly put into orbit during a space test in August 2021.
Source and photo: Kongsberg Defence Aerospace. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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