Land Forces 2026: Kongsberg advances Australian missile production, exports

An inert operational missile sits on the wharf in front of the frigate HMAS Ballarat during Naval Strike Missile handling training in Henderson, Western Australia. (Commonwealth of Australia)

Kongsberg Australia is increasing exports of locally manufactured defence products, while also progressing missile-production and integration facilities in New South Wales, according to the company's managing director, John Fry.

Fry told Janes that Naval Strike Missiles (NSMs) are arming the Royal Australian Navy's Anzac-class frigates and Hobart-class destroyers, with most ship installations now done. Their shipping store equipment and integrated launchers were manufactured in Australia and, furthermore, “We've started work now on our export contract” for NSM launchers.

Worth AUD50 million (USD35 million) when awarded in August 2025, these NSM launchers are being installed on Danish and Spanish warships. Kongsberg Australia is also delivering NSM Coastal Defence System fire-control consoles to Poland, with several batches already delivered. “That programme is going well,” Fry said.

Missile production

In another important effort, Kongsberg Australia is building a missile-production facility in Williamtown, New South Wales, and this is “all on schedule”. The company will take possession of the building in early March 2027 and “then we'll start production of our first missiles by the end of 2027”.

Fry said production would commence with the NSM and move to the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) around four months later. This will be the first production site for these missiles outside Norway. Production will initially be for Australia, but “the facility has got additional capacity above and beyond what Australia would need”, he said.

Kongsberg Australia has also taken possession of a government facility at Orchard Hills, where it will integrate energetics into the two missile types.