On Monday, 29 September 2025, the press service of the British Royal Navy announced the first-ever firing of a Kongsberg NSM (Naval Strike Missile) from the Type 23 Duke-class frigate HMS Somerset (F82).
Photos: Royal Navy
The NSM anti-ship system entered service with the Royal Navy under the designation MOSS (Maritime Offensive Strike System). The UK Ministry of Defence ordered the missiles from the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace on 23 November 2022 as a gap-filler solution, following the withdrawal of RGM-84 Harpoon missiles and pending the future FC/ASW (Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon).
During the Ægir-25 exercise at the Andøya missile range in northern Norway, in cooperation with Norwegian and Polish partners, missiles were launched at a distance of over 100 nautical miles, sinking the hulls of two decommissioned Royal Norwegian Navy (Sjøforsvaret) vessels: the former KNM Terne (P 988), a Hauk-class missile torpedo boat measuring 36.5 m in length and displacing 160 tonnes, and the former KNM Trondheim (F 302), an Oslo-class frigate measuring 96.6 m in length and displacing 1,745 tonnes. Participating alongside the Royal Navy was a Norwegian Skjold-class corvette, while the Polish Navy’s Coastal Missile Unit (MJR) launched three NSM missiles from land against the same targets.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, said:
“The NSM is one of the most advanced missiles in our naval arsenal. It will give the Royal Navy and our allies an edge against our enemies. This milestone, achieved through our exemplary international partnership with Norway, significantly enhances our maritime deterrent and underscores the Government’s dedication to investing in the technologies that will maintain Britain’s secure.”
Commander Matt Millyard, commanding officer of HMS Somerset (F82), added:
“I am very proud of the team following the successful first of class firing of the Naval Strike Missile. This is not something that comes together easily and has involved an incredible amount of work by the crew and staff from across the defence enterprise. The professionalism and teamwork demonstrated by all throughout the planning and execution has been exemplary.”
Commander Matthew Cox, NSM Programme Director said:
“This programme showcases the strong UK-Norwegian strategic partnership, enabling the UK to achieve its first ship installation within 12 months of business case approval – an unprecedented pace for a complex weapons programme. The UK’s first NSM firing, hosted by Norway at Andøya, further highlights this enduring collaboration.”
HMS Somerset (F82) was rearmed with NSM in December 2023. It was followed by HMS Portland (F79) in December 2024 and HMS Richmond (F239) in March this year. In total, 17 vessels are to be rearmed (11 Type 23 Duke-class frigates and six Type 45 Daring-class destroyers).
The NSM missiles were developed in the early 21st century and were initially delivered to the Norwegian Armed Forces between 2011 and 2015 as the Nytt sjømålsmissil. Today, NSM missiles are in service with the armed forces of 15 countries (including 12 NATO and EU members). In addition to those mentioned above, these include Australia, Belgium, Spain (selected on 9 September 2022), Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany, Norway (which ordered additional missiles on 22 December 2022), the Netherlands (12 December 2022), the United States (as RGM-184A in the US Navy on LCS-class ships and in the USMC on unmanned ROGUE Fires launchers), and potentially Ukraine.
Beyond Poland, approval to acquire the NSM Coastal Defence System (NSM-CDS) has in recent years been granted to Romania, Latvia, and Bulgaria. Germany is also set to join soon (integrating the system into its MARS 3/EuroPuls multiple rocket launchers), and Denmark may follow, having announced plans to purchase a coastal defence system without specifying the missile type—though it recently ordered NSM for its naval vessels.
STRIKE! 🔥#RoyalNavy frigate @HMSSomerset has completed the first firing of new ship-busting missiles capable of taking out enemy vessels at ranges of more than 100 miles.
Read more: https://t.co/crnmyC6JHn pic.twitter.com/hHJTTUXclE
— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) September 29, 2025
.@HMSSomerset unleashes the Naval Strike Missile – the first Royal Navy firing of the new ship-busting missiles, capable of targeting and destroying enemy vessels from over 100 miles away.
— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) September 29, 2025
Morskie kły na polowaniu 🚀⚓️
O każdej porze dnia i nocy w gotowości do działania! Morska Jednostka Rakietowa podczas ćwiczenia Ægir-25 wraz z @Sjoforsvaret i @RoyalNavy wykonała strzelania rakietowe do celu na wodzie! @DGeneralneRSZ @DowOperSZ @SztabGenWP @MON_GOV_PL @NATO… pic.twitter.com/zYr9oEGpW3
— Marynarka Wojenna RP/ Polish Navy (@MarWojRP) September 26, 2025
Morska Jednostka Rakietowa ⚓️🚀
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1000 polubień ❤️ pod tym postem (na Instagramie, X lub Facebooku) „odblokuje” specjalny film 😎@DGeneralneRSZ @DowOperSZ @SztabGenWP @MON_GOV_PL @NATO @NATO_MARCOM @STRIKFORNATO pic.twitter.com/qgaREU7xYn— Marynarka Wojenna RP/ Polish Navy (@MarWojRP) September 29, 2025
