Norwegian entity Kongsberg is involved in three important Australian military programmes,
as the company greatly expands its footprint via its Kongsberg Defence Australia (KDAu) subsidiary. The trio are the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), AS9 Huntsman 155mm self-propelled howitzers and Naval Strike Missile.
Befitting its rising status in Australia, the company acquired land at Mawson Lakes, and work on a 2,500m² facility is ongoing. It is scheduled for occupation in January 2024.
John Fry, General Manager of KDAu, said his company had delivered all Mk 2 canister
launchers for the NASAMS air defence system, and that work on fire distribution centres (FDC) is about 60% complete. The company is working under prime contractor Raytheon Australia for this Project Land 19 Phase 7B.
The FDCs fit inside a 13-foot container and are carried by a 4×4 truck. Each FDC comprises approximately 10,000 components, the vast majority manufactured by Australian supply chain partners. The Mk 2 launchers feature six missile canisters mounted on a flatbed pallet carried about on 8×8 trucks.
Australia had announced the signing of this AUD1.5 billion (USD1.04 billion) NASAMS acquisition on 20 July 2019. A level of about 60% Australian industrial involvement will be achieved in the project.
An Australian battery contains Mk 2 canister launchers; Hawkei-based high-mobility launchers for four missiles; an FDC; a CEA Tactical AESA radar as the primary fire control radar mounted on a Hawkei; a CEA Operational AESA radar for longer-range surveillance mounted on an 8×8 truck; and a Raytheon AN/AAS-52 Multispectral Targeting System MTS-A sensor on a 5m telescopic mast carried by a Hawkei.
Australia procured two NASAMS batteries to be operated by 16 Regiment based near
Adelaide. They can fire both AMRAAM and AIM-9X missiles. Interestingly, Australia
could also fire AMRAAM-ER missiles if it procured them. If Australia wants a longer-range air defence capability, Fry said the AMRAAM-ER would be an ideal way to do so quickly.
KDAu is also responsible for supplying NASAMS classroom trainers. An initial operational capability for NASAMS is supposed to occur next year.
The second major programme for KDAu is Project Land 8116 Phase 1, where Kongsberg is supplying an integrated combat solution on AS9 and AS10 artillery pieces, essentially screens and software. This system is based on Norway’s Vidar, as installed on Norwegian K9 howitzers, but Australian vehicles will have more screens. Fry said his company is at the detailed design stage of this work.
Kongsberg’s third line of effort is the 250+km-range Naval Strike Missile (NSM), with Canberra signing a contract on 20 December 2022 under Project Sea 1300. Under an accelerated acquisition, the NSM will replace Harpoon missiles on Anzacclass frigates and Hobart-class destroyers.
Fry said the NSM would also be suitable for Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels. Australia selected the NSM on 5 April 2022, and the first missiles will be delivered next year. KDAu will manufacture and assemble NSM launchers, integrate energetics and also investigate a sovereign capability. Incidentally, Marand has recently been subcontracted to make launch ramp systems for the NSM.
Another tantalizing product Kongsberg is proffering to Australia is the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), the only maritime strike and land attack cruise missile able to be carried internally in F-35A/C fighters. Japan and Norway are the first two customers, but Fry expects most F-35 users to eventually adopt the JSM.
Finally, Kongsberg is exhibiting its StrikeMaster at Avalon Airshow 2023. The StrikeMaster combines a Bushmaster utility vehicle with two NSMs, creating a mobile system suitable for coastal defence. Fry believes it is ideal for Project Land 4100 Phase 2, and gives Australia a low-risk opportunity given that the navy will soon be using the NSM. The StrikeMaster is attracting international enquiries already.
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