U.S. Littoral Combat Ship tests Norwegian-made missile

The Naval Strike Missile from Norway's Kongsberg Defense Systems has been launched from a U.S. Navy warship in a demonstration of the missile's capability.

The firing was from the USS Coronado, an Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship, and the first time an LCS has fired a long-range anti-ship missile, the company said.

"We are very pleased that the U.S. Navy evaluates the NSM missile," said Pal Bratlie, executive vice president, Kongsberg Defense Systems. "This contract does not, however, include any commitment for the U.S. Navy beyond the test.

"The missile is in series production for Norway and Poland, and this test has enabled the U.S. Navy to study it closer in a realistic scenario."

Kongsberg's Naval Strike Missile is a new precision strike weapon. It employs an inertial navigation system bolstered with a military GPS receiver and laser altimeter. It is a multi-mission weapon suitable for use against maritime and land targets and has a range of more than 100 nautical miles.

In the firing from the USS Coronado, the missile followed a preplanned trajectory for 100 nautical miles, located its target and struck the target at the pre-selected hit point.