Latvia receives U.S. Nod to buy Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System

Latvia is likely to place an order for Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System worth over $100 million, now that it has received the go-ahead from the United States.

On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department said it approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Latvia of Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System and related equipment for an estimated cost of $110 million.  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

Latvia has requested to buy a Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System (NSM CDS), including tactical, telemetered, and training missiles; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total cost is $110 million, per a DSCA release issued today.

The Naval Strike Missile is an anti-ship and land-attack missile developed by Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA). It succeeded the Penguin missile and was later marketed under the name Naval Strike Missile (NSM).

The NSM has a mass of 400 kg (880 lb) with booster and 350 kg (770 lb) without booster. It measures 3.96 m (13 ft) with booster and 3.48 m (11 ft 5 in) as a bare missile.

The missile's width is 700 mm (2 ft 4 in) when stowed and 1.36 m (4 ft 6 in) when wings are deployed. It has a titanium-cased penetrating blast and controlled fragmentation warhead that weighs 120 kg (260 lb).

The missile's propulsion system is a Microturbo TRI-40 turbojet with a solid rocket booster. The NSM has an operational range of over 200 km (110 nmi; 120 mi) and the NSM 1A has a range of 250 km (130 nmi; 160 mi).

It can fly at sea level or sea skimming altitude, and has a maximum speed of Mach 0.93 (316 m/s; 1,040 ft/s). Its guidance system includes GPS-aided INS (GAINS), laser altimeter, and TERCOM. The missile can be launched from naval ships and land-based vehicles.