Kongsberg To Build Australian Naval Strike Missile Factory

A new Kongsberg factory manufacturing missiles to be used by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will be constructed in New South Wales.

As per a recent press statement, Kongsberg Defence Australia has formally signed a deal with the Commonwealth of Australia to establish the nation’s first missile manufacturing factory in Newcastle.

Australia is investing an undisclosed sum in the construction of the new factory, which will manufacture and maintain the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for the ADF and other international partners.

Managing Director of Kongsberg Defence Australia John Fry described the move to build the new facility, which will create around 100 jobs, as a “huge milestone.”

He commented: “Kongsberg will be the first company to build a missile factory in Australia, and that is something that we are all very proud of. The facility will be based on the new missile factory in Norway, the most advanced missile manufacturing facility in the world.

“We will be building and maintaining some of the ADF’s most important strike weapons; a huge privilege that comes with great responsibility.”

Kongsberg is also planning to build a similar facility in the United States at a later date.

Øyvind Kolset, Executive Vice President Missiles & Space for Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, added: "The three Kongberg factories will support Europe, North America and the Indo-Pacific regions to meet the strong international demand for the NSM and JSM."

The NSM was developed in-house at Kongsberg and was first deployed in 2012 by the Norwegian Navy, which uses the missile as the main weapon on its Navy’s frigates and littoral corvettes.

The missile flies at just under the speed of sound (Mach 1) and has an approximate range of up to 150 miles. It can fly in sea-skimming mode and can manoeuvre over or around land masses. A total of 14 countries have currently acquired the missile.

The air-launched JSM is currently being integrated onto the F-35A fighter.

• You can read more details on the Kongsberg website