The Spanish Navy will not receive its first fifth-generation NSM anti-ship missiles with a range of 185km until 2027

By: Maksim Panasovskyi | 02.06.2023, 14:28
The Spanish Navy will not receive its first fifth-generation NSM anti-ship missiles with a range of 185km until 2027

Spanish officials have confirmed that Norwegian company Kongsberg will begin supplying fifth-generation Naval Strike Missile (NSM) anti-ship missiles with a launch range of up to 185km in four years. Spain wants to do away with the Harpoon missiles in 2030.

Here's What We Know

The Spanish Navy intends to equip the F-100 and F-110 frigates with the new missiles. If all goes according to schedule, the first NSMs will be delivered the year the first F-110 frigate, built by Navantia, is commissioned.

At the moment, the Spanish Navy has not disclosed either the amount of the order or the number of missiles. At the same time, the service noted that it will continue to use Harpoon until Kongsberg delivers all the missiles to NSM.

Note that Harpoon carriers in Spain are not just ships. Fourth-generation F-18 Hornet fighters use the AGM-84 version of the missile for air-to-surface operations.

Source: Defence News