Kongsberg Defence Australia announced that it has been selected for a significant export order for the manufacture and supply of Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Coastal Defence System (CDS) command and control consoles to Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace. This landmark contract underscores Kongsberg Defence Australia’s expanding role in the global defence sector and its commitment to advancing Australia’s sovereign defence industry capabilities.
The NSM coastal defence console, derived from the NASAMS air defence console that has recently been introduced into service with the Australian Army, will be wholly built in Australia, extending the established Australian production of command and control consoles for NASAMS capability.
The execution of this contract will result in the creation of up to 30 positions within Kongsberg Defence Australia and across its supply chain, further bolstering the local workforce and contributing to local economic growth. The contract will also benefit Kongsberg Defence Australia’s Australian partners and suppliers, who will play an integral role in the production process, further strengthening Australian defence industry.
John Fry, Managing Director of Kongsberg Defence Australia, said: “Being selected for this major export order is a testament to the expertise and dedication of our Australian team. It highlights our capability to competively deliver world-class defence solutions and reinforces our ability and commitment to building advanced sovereign defence industry capabilities here in Australia. We are proud to support Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace and look forward to the continued growth and success of our local operations. Importantly this order will ensure that Kongsberg Defence Australia is able to be highly responsive to provide locally manufactured solutions for both Ground Based Air Defence (NASAMS) and Land Based Maritime Strike (NSM Coastal Defence System with StrikeMaster Launchers) capabilities should they be required by the Australian Defence Force.”
The saving grace for KDA’s viability in making the NASAM/COASTAL NSM tec, while our Govt twiddles its thumbs or can’t be bothered awarding extra NASAMS to strengthen armies baseline AD capability (which now looks to be the only AD we’ll have, no mention of MRGBAD anymore) or about providing for the coastal defence either (don’t seem in any sort of hurry on this either, if they go ahead at all).
Kongsberg and Thales have developed an extremely cost-effective combination of Bushmaster vehicles with Naval Strike Missiles that would give Australia an almost immediate mobile effective coastal defence system. This of course has been totally ignored.
Kongsberg and Thales need to get a retired US Army General on board and for him to recommend it to Defence and the ADF.
Guaranteed sale
Exactly.
But do we have the ability to leave the country as per our private mandate
I have no idea what this comment means but I’ll let in through in case it makes sense to someone else.
I believe fostering true defence requires significantly more diverse friendly commercial trade agreements I suggest inviting our close neighbours to invest in these systems as strategic partners and hence expand our readiness to protect our own.