Norway and Germany pen maintenance deal for naval strike missiles

The governments of Norway and Germany have signed a partnership agreement for the maintenance of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM).

The new cooperation agreement for the maintenance of the NSM has been established in Luxembourg through NATO’s procurement branch, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).

Initially signed by Norway and Germany, the partnership also invites other countries that have acquired or are interested in acquiring the NSM to apply for membership.

Gro Jære, Director of the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, highlighted that this partnership offers a cost-effective and sustainable maintenance solution while strengthening ties between allied nations. By leveraging NSPA, participating countries gain economies of scale and a long-term, predictable framework for maintenance and support.

The joint operation and maintenance program offers several benefits, including reduced costs, streamlined management of spare parts, documentation, configuration management, and shared data and experiences. This collaborative approach also ensures that NSPA assumes long-term responsibility for the program.

There has been significant interest from other nations wanting to join the partnership, with the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and the United Kingdom already expressing interest.

The Norwegian Maritime Department’s Naval Strike Missile Program Office (NSM PO) is currently in discussions with the Netherlands and Belgium to integrate them as the next members. Norway is also exploring similar partnership agreements for other systems.

This month, Norwegian supplier of defense systems Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace signed a contract to deliver naval strike missiles and associated installed equipment to Denmark in a transaction valued at NOK 2.1 billion (approximately $193.5 million).