Avalon 2025: Kongsberg confirms its first Australian missile factory
The NSM in flight. (Image: Kongsberg)
The deal, which has been planned since August 2024, is part of an ongoing attempt to bolster Australia’s defences against the potential of Chinese aggression.
Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (KDA) will set up its first factory producing Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) outside of Norway at Newcastle Airport, Australia.
The factory is expected to be open for business from 2027, making both NSM and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), and for its international partners.
There have been plans to open a new missile factory in Australia since August 2024, but the Australian Ministry of Defence said the new announcement confirmed “the next step towards implementing the announcement of last August”.
The missiles and the money
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![As Indonesia doubles up its order, who else is looking at the Arrowhead 140 frigate design?]()
As Indonesia doubles up its order, who else is looking at the Arrowhead 140 frigate design?
The adaptable design of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 frigate, already selected by the UK Royal Navy and Poland, has led to more orders from Indonesia while other countries continue to weigh it up.
-
![US Navy to invest more than $700 million in laser-related R&D efforts in FY2026]()
US Navy to invest more than $700 million in laser-related R&D efforts in FY2026
The US Navy’s acceleration of its laser weapon development initiatives reflects a decisive shift towards ultimately having a “laser on every ship” across tomorrow’s surface fleet.
-
![How far will the US Navy’s FF(X) design deviate from the Legend-class?]()
How far will the US Navy’s FF(X) design deviate from the Legend-class?
The new frigate class’s focus on modularity, speed to build and enhanced armament align with the priorities of the US Navy’s Golden Fleet.
-
![How China’s naval advancements are pushing the US Navy to innovate]()
How China’s naval advancements are pushing the US Navy to innovate
The US Navy is set to invest $30 billion in artificial intelligence, cyber, space and autonomy research and development efforts in FY2026 as the force rethinks how it fights in light of China’s naval rise.
