Three warships of the Royal Navy, HMS Somerset, HMS Portland, and HMS Richmond, are already equipped with the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), developed by Norway.
It is expected that other ships will also receive the weapon, but this expansion will depend on the results of the United Kingdom’s Defence Strategic Review, which will define the future priorities and capabilities of national defense. HMS Richmond is currently participating in a mission in the Indo-Pacific alongside the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
The NSM is a fifth-generation missile designed to strike targets both at sea and on land with high precision. It uses advanced navigation systems such as GPS, inertial guidance, and infrared sensors, and features a stealthy shape and sea-skimming flight, making detection difficult. With a range exceeding 185 km, it is equipped with a 125 kg warhead capable of causing significant damage, even to heavily armored vessels.
Versatile and compact, the missile can be launched from ships, coastal bases, and aircraft. Its modular architecture allows integration with different combat systems, including the Mk 41 vertical launcher in the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) version.
Already adopted by countries such as Norway, the USA, the United Kingdom, and Germany, the NSM stands out for its combination of precision, survivability, and adaptability to different combat scenarios.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @Forsvaret_no | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
