Launch made in the exercise AEGER 25 marks a decisive step in the modernization of British anti -evil capacity
Type 23’s HMS Somerset (F 82) froga Naval Strike Missile (NSM), produced by the Norwegian group Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace. The shooting occurred during the AEGER 25 exercises, performed in northern Norway.
Somerset had already made history in December 2023, when it was the first Royal Navy ship to receive NSM launchers, installed in place of the former American Harpoon Block 1C (RGM-84D missiles, British GWS 60), whose definitive withdrawal from the service is scheduled for 2026.
Currently, other Type 23 frigates, such as Richmond and Portland, have also been equipped with the new weaponry.
Partnership with Norway
The Harpoon replacement program by NSM began in November 2022, when the UK and Norway defense ministries signed an intergovernmental agreement to provide missiles. The system, in addition to increasing the offensive capacity of the British fleet, reinforces the interoperability between NATO’s allied marines.
NSM is considered a state -of -the -art missile, exceeding 180 km, stealth capacity, advanced guiding and high precision against naval targets and coastal, representing a qualitative leap in relation to anterior weaponry.
Naval modernization
With the adoption of NSM, the UK Navy strengthens its combat capacity in high intensity scenarios, replacing a system in use since the 1980s with a more modern and effective solution.
The successful release by HMS Somerset demonstrates not only the integration of the new weaponry, but also the advancement of the British fleet modernization process.
Source and images: Royal Navy
