US Marines Select Naval Strike Missile For Anti-ship Capability

The United States (US) Marine Corps have selected Naval Strike Missile (NSM) to provide anti-ship capability to complement the US Navy’s sea control mission for $47.6 million.

In 2018, the US Navy awarded Raytheon a contract to manufacture and deliver NSM as the Navy's over-the-horizon weapon system for littoral combat ships and future frigates. The Marine Corps' selection of the Navy's anti-ship missile enhances joint interoperability and reduces costs and logistical burdens, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

"This fifth-generation missile adds another dimension for sea control operations and for protection from adversary warships," said Kim Ernzen, vice president of Raytheon Air Warfare Systems.

Designed by Norway’s Kongsberg and produced jointly by Kongsberg and Raytheon, the NSM is a long-range, precision strike weapon that can find and destroy enemy ships at distances up to 100 nautical miles away. The missile flies at sea-skimming altitude, has terrain-following capability and uses an advanced seeker for precise targeting.