Type 23 frigate HMS Portland has become the second Royal Navy warship to be fitted with naval strike missiles (NSMs), developed by Norwegian supplier of defense systems Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
The Plymouth-based frigate follows the first, HMS Somerset, in completing trials and loading eight of the upgraded NSMs in Norway, with the rest of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 and Type 45 destroyer fleet now set to follow.
As disclosed, the new missiles can travel at speeds close to Mach 1 and are capable of taking out enemy ships at ranges of more than 100 miles away.
The 400 kg weapon, which is also in service with the Norwegian, US, and Polish navies, replaces the now-retired Harpoon system.
HMS Portland carried out alignment and sea acceptance trials with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and the UK’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) at Haakonsvern Naval Base, the Norwegian Navy’s primary base, near Bergen.
The crew was trained in onloading and offloading the weapons into the specially designed housing before a harbor trial ensured the whole NSM system, including the missiles themselves, were properly functioning and working with the ship’s other systems and sensors, according to the Royal Navy.
The alignment and sea acceptance trials saw Silverbird, a telemetry variation of NSM, embarked and involved high-speed maneuvers to ensure the system can be operated effectively during operations in difficult seas.
“Through close collaboration with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and DE&S Torpedoes and Maritime Strike, the successful completion of NSM trials has ensured that HMS Portland is prepared for future tasking,” said Lieutenant Commander Gary Chambers , Portland’s Weapon Engineer Officer.
“With the completion of its Harbour Acceptance Test, NSM has been successfully integrated into HMS Portland,” stated Øyvind Kolset , Executive Vice President, Missiles & Space at Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
HMS Portland , which entered into the Royal Navy’s service in 2001, will now be under a planned maintenance period before onloading NSM again for operations in 2025.
To remind, the vessel, together with its sister ship, HMS Iron Duke, returned home after a busy deployment.