Kongsberg RGM-184 NSM
The NSM (Naval Strike Missile) was developed by the Norwegian company KDA (Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace) as a multi-porpose anti-ship and land-attack missile. Production for the Norwegian Navy started in 2007.
In 2018, the U.S. Navy announced, that it will acquire the NSM as the over-the-horizon anti-ship weapon for its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). The designation of the missile in USN service is RGM-184A. The American prime contractor for NSM is Raytheon, which builds the missiles and launch containers under license from KDA.
The RGM-184A has low-observable characteristics, and over water it can fly very close to the surface (sea skimming) to further reduce the chances of detection. It is launched from a container using a jettisonable rocket booster, and is turbojet-powered for the remainder of the mission. For navigation, it is equipped with a GPS-aided INS (Inertial Navigation System), a laser altimeter and a TERCOM (Terrain Contour Matching) system. For terminal precision guidance and homing, the missile has an IIR (Imaging Infrared) seeker and an onboard target database.
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| Photo: KDA |
| RGM-184A |
The RGM-184B NSM Block 1A is an improved version with a new engine, upgraded technology and some performance improvements, incl. a higher range.
An air-launched derivative of the NSM is marketed by Kongsberg as the JSM (Joint Strike Missile). It has a slightly changed external shape, incl. side intakes for its single turbofan engine, to make it fit into the internal weapons bay of the F-35A. Maximum range in a high-altitude attack profile is reported as 555 km (345 miles), while for an all-low level approach, it's around 185 km (110 miles).
In May 2024, the U.S. Air Force ordered its first batch of planned total of 268 JSM missiles, which will be designated as AGM-184A Kraken in USAF service.
Specifications
Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!
Data for RGM-184A:
| RGM-184A | AGM-184A | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3.96 m (13 ft) (w/o booster) | 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) |
| Wingspan | 1.37 m (4.5 ft) | |
| Weight | 350 kg (770 lb) (w/o booster) | 416 kg (917 lb) |
| Speed | Mach 0.93 | |
| Range | 200 km (120 miles) | 555 km (345 miles) |
| Propulsion | Microturbo TRI-40 turbojet; 3.3 kN (750 lb) Booster: Solid-fueled rocket |
Williams F415 turbofan |
| Warhead | 120 kg (260 lb) penetrating blast-fragmentation | |
Main Sources
[1] Wikipedia: Naval Strike Missile
[2] Wikipedia: Joint Strike Missile
[3] Air&Space Forces Magazine, John A. Tirpak:
Air Force Buys First Lot of Norwegian Joint Strike Missiles
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Last Updated: 17 June 2024