In a milestone for Australia’s growing long-range strike capabilities, KONGSBERG Defence & Aerospace and Thales Australia announced the successful live-firing of a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) test munition from the StrikeMaster missile launch vehicle in Norway. The achievement confirms the suitability of Thales Australia’s Bushmaster Utility variant as a mobile launch platform for KONGSBERG’s advanced NSM, establishing StrikeMaster as a low-risk, high-impact solution for Australia’s future precision strike requirements.
The test, conducted using a blast test vehicle (BTV) configuration—comprising the NSM’s booster motor but not its live warhead—validated the missile’s safe and reliable launch sequence. The BTV test firing forms part of the rigorous qualification process to ensure that the Bushmaster-based launcher can seamlessly integrate with KONGSBERG’s missile systems under operational conditions.
The Naval Strike Missile is a fifth-generation, stealth, precision-guided cruise missile capable of engaging both sea and land targets protected by advanced air-defence systems. Developed by Norway’s KONGSBERG Defence & Aerospace, the NSM is distinguished by its low-observable design, sea-skimming flight profile, autonomous target recognition, and high terminal manoeuvrability, making it one of the most advanced and survivable anti-ship missiles in the world.
To date, the NSM has been selected by or is in service with 14 nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, Germany, and Australia, underscoring its growing role as the NATO standard for long-range maritime strike. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) officially inducted the NSM into service in 2024, replacing the ageing Harpoon missile as part of Canberra’s broader effort to bolster its deterrent posture amid a rapidly evolving Indo-Pacific security environment.
Unlike traditional ship-launched missiles, the NSM is designed for modular deployment—capable of being fired from ships, aircraft, or land-based vehicles without major modifications. The land-based version, known as the NSM Coastal Defence System (CDS), is currently fielded by Poland and the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), and has been selected by several additional NATO members.
The StrikeMaster represents KONGSBERG’s Australian adaptation of the NSM CDS, integrating the missile system onto Thales Australia’s Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle—a battle-proven, multi-role platform already in service with multiple allied armed forces. The configuration features a twin-pack missile launcher mounted on the Bushmaster’s rear compartment, allowing the vehicle to deploy, fire, and reposition with agility across varied terrain.
The system architecture closely mirrors the USMC’s NMESIS (Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System), which employs a similar ground-based anti-ship missile setup. This interoperability not only enhances Australia’s alignment with U.S. and allied doctrines but also strengthens the collective maritime strike network being developed across the Indo-Pacific.
The StrikeMaster system is comprised of three primary components:
The Launcher Vehicle, which carries and fires two NSMs;
The Fire Control Centre, responsible for command, control, and targeting functions; and
The Missile Re-supply Vehicle, enabling rapid reloading and sustained operations.
All three are based on variants of the Bushmaster platform, ensuring commonality, logistical simplicity, and proven battlefield survivability.
A key feature of the StrikeMaster initiative is its strong sovereign industrial foundation. The system will be manufactured in Australia, drawing on KONGSBERG Defence Australia’s facilities in Adelaide and Thales Australia’s plant in Bendigo, Victoria. Together, the companies will engage over 150 local suppliers, supporting or creating approximately 700 Australian jobs across advanced manufacturing, systems integration, and component engineering.
In parallel, construction of KONGSBERG’s new Missile Manufacturing Facility near Newcastle, New South Wales, is underway. Once operational, the site will produce NSMs domestically, with deliveries to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) scheduled to commence in 2027. This development marks a significant leap toward establishing an enduring missile production and sustainment capability on Australian soil, a goal closely aligned with Canberra’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR) recommendations for industrial self-reliance.
Kongsberg Defence Australia Managing Director John Fry hailed the test firing as a crucial validation of the system’s performance and reliability.
“This firing is a clear demonstration of StrikeMaster’s capability, providing assurance in the launcher’s reliability and performance, and confirming its suitability for Australia and other nations,” Fry stated.
“Our collaboration with Thales Australia enables us to offer the proven and fielded NSM CDS capability in a mobile, protected, and locally built configuration that aligns with the force structure of Australia and our partners.”
Thales Australia CEO Jeff Connolly echoed this sentiment, emphasising the partnership’s contribution to Australia’s sovereign defence ecosystem.
“This successful live-fire proves the combination of the NSM and Bushmaster can provide a potent land-based maritime strike capability for Australia and our allies, and it will be made right here in Australia—supporting a sovereign industrial base,” Connolly said.
The StrikeMaster program fits squarely within Australia’s effort to expand its precision-strike reach and enhance cross-domain deterrence. The ability to deploy land-based anti-ship missiles from mobile platforms provides the Australian Army with a credible coastal defence and sea-denial capability, complementing the RAN’s naval firepower and the Royal Australian Air Force’s strike assets.
Defence analysts note that mobile NSM launchers can disperse across the northern approaches and archipelagic terrain, complicating an adversary’s targeting calculus while strengthening Australia’s ability to control key maritime chokepoints in the Indo-Pacific.
The integration of the StrikeMaster into the ADF’s long-range fires portfolio will also bolster interoperability with allied forces, especially the U.S. Marines, whose NMESIS systems are already deployed in the Pacific under Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) concepts.
With the successful completion of the test firing in Norway, the StrikeMaster project is expected to advance toward full-scale production and operational evaluation in Australia. Once fielded, it will represent one of the most capable and versatile land-based maritime strike systems available to any middle power, significantly enhancing Australia’s strategic flexibility and deterrence posture.
The NSM’s adaptability—combined with the Bushmaster’s rugged mobility and Australian-built foundation—positions the StrikeMaster as a cornerstone of Australia’s sovereign strike enterprise and a model for allied cooperation in next-generation defence systems.
