According to information published by PGZ on October 26, 2023, contracts were formalized between Polish defense companies PIT-RADWAR and Wojskowe Zakłady Elektroniczne, under the Polish Armaments Group, and Norwegian defense entity Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (KDA) for the development and delivery of two Naval Missile Units, alongside the servicing and production of NSM (Naval Strike Missile) missiles.
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Naval Strike Missile at Euronaval 2018, Paris. (Picture source: Navy Recognition)
This contract follows a previous agreement reached on September 5, 2023, between the Armament Agency and Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace for supplying coastal missile systems furnished with NSM missiles. This acquisition is part of a broader initiative to augment the Polish Navy's defense capabilities.
Historically, the Polish Navy procured two NDR systems; one was acquired in 2008 and became operational in 2012, while the other was ordered in 2014 and commissioned in 2017. Both projects saw a collaboration between PIT-RADWAR and KDA.
Additionally, the contract includes a clause for the transfer of technology and expertise regarding the servicing and production of NSM missiles to Wojskowe Zakłady Elektroniczne S.A. Similar technology transfers had occurred in previous contracts, contributing to the growth of indigenous capabilities in the Polish defense sector.
The recent contract involves the construction and delivery of specific vehicles to four Coastal Missile Squadrons. The total value of the contract exceeds PLN 1.1 billion, with the delivery expected to be completed by 2029.
The Polish Coastal Missile Squadrons play a significant role within the NATO defense framework. Their mobility allows for a flexible defense strategy, which has been demonstrated in several allied exercises conducted in Estonia and Romania.
Naval Strike Missile
The Naval Strike Missile (NSM), a creation of Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, is devised for anti-ship and land-attack purposes. Its design incorporates stealth features using composite materials to mitigate its radar cross-section, making it less detectable by adversary radar systems.
For navigation, the missile merges the functionalities of GPS, INS (Inertial Navigation System), and terrain recognition. With a range extending over 100 nautical miles (185 km), it carries a titanium warhead loaded with a blast-fragmentation explosive.
The NSM is equipped with an imaging infrared seeker for target discrimination and recognition among groups of ships. It's adaptable to various launch platforms including ships, trucks, and aircraft.
The flight profile of the NSM encompasses sea-skim or terrain-following flight modes, and it has the capability for evasive maneuvers along a random waypoint trajectory. Post-launch, it can operate autonomously, and a two-way data link facilitates communication between the missile and the operator or among missiles for coordinated attacks or re-targeting.
