USS Gabrielle Giffords fires NSM
USS Gabrielle Giffords fired the Naval Strike Missile on 19 March. (Photo: USN)
Naval Strike Missile is equipping Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships for the USN.
The Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS Gabrielle Giffords has successfully launched the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) in a shipboard operational testing and evaluation exercise, the USN announced on 30 March.
‘The successful missile shoot [on 19 March] demonstrates value for long-range anti-ship cruise missiles aboard LCS,’ the USN claimed.
NSM is a long-range precision strike weapon that flies at sea-skimming altitude, has a terrain-following capability and uses an advanced seeker for precise targeting.
NSM was fired from an LCS in 2014 at the Point Mugu test range in California.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the USN picked NSM in June 2018 as its over-the-horizon missile solution for LCS and future frigates. It was pitched for this purpose by NSM developer Kongsberg and Raytheon.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls]()
How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls
Ageing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.
-
![“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling]()
“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling
Multiple USV programme milestones announced last week, aligned with a reinforcement of the Royal Navy’s vision for a hybrid fleet, point to innovation-led ambition but also to a structural calculation with resource ceilings that neither London nor Washington can ignore.
-
![As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging]()
As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging
Research programmes and system procurement efforts to counter uncrewed surface and underwater vehicle threats are accelerating as naval drone uptake spreads.
-
![US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027]()
US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027
After recording a nearly six-year delay in the OPC schedule, the USCG intends to advance with the programme, reaching multiple milestones in the short term.
