The prototype installation was tested on an undisclosed military range facility in Norway at the start of October. Kongsberg picture.
Kongsberg has successfully demonstrated a containerised Naval Strike Missile (NSM) transportation and launch system designed for rapid deployment to land sites, truck-mounted applications, or as a modular fit for maritime platforms.
Containerized systems would allow Coast Guard cutters to be fitted for naval missions without the long term over head of permanent installation. Containers could be procured and maintained by the Navy and when deployed on cutters, manning could be done by Navy Reservists.
According to Ståle Mortensson, vice-president business development and strategy in the Emerging Business unit of Kongsberg’s Missiles & Aerostructures business, “…the performance observed from the prototype demonstration has left Kongsberg in a much better position to discuss the integration of an NSM mission module with platform OEMs. “On a ship, for example, it is very important to understand issues around footprint, installation and handling,” he said. “We are now better able to inform customers about ship design and topside impacts like securing points, blast management and fly-out angles.”
This system is in a 20 foot container rather than full size 40 foot containers, so its foot print is only 20×8′. Two would fit easily on an NSC’s foc’sle or on the deck of an OPC amidships where the third boat is stowed.
We could offer a cutter for prototype installation and perhaps use the installation in an exercise SINKEX.
I expect we will see a lot more systems being offered in containers. The flight deck of a National Security cutter is 50×80 feet meaning we could probably mount 18 twenty foot containers on the flight deck.
