Naval Strike Missile (NSM)

The Naval Strike Missile (NSM) program is a key line item in the Department of the Navy's FY 2026 budget, supporting the Marine Corps' Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS). The primary goal of this program is to provide a ground-based, anti-ship capability for the Marine Corps, enabling Medium Range Missile (MMSL) batteries to conduct ship interdiction missions. These batteries are central to the Marine Corps' artillery modernization plan and will be assigned to each Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR), deploying with Marine Expeditionary Units to enhance maritime denial operations.

The NSM procurement objective is to acquire the same missile configuration as the Navy, ensuring interoperability and cost efficiencies. The missile system consists of an encanistered missile, which includes a flight vehicle (warhead, propulsion, guidance, and initiation systems) housed within a canister. This design allows for secure transport, handling, and integration with the Missile Launch System (MLS) or NMESIS, while protecting the missile from environmental exposure. The procurement plan for FY 2026 includes acquiring additional missiles, with a total munitions requirement to fully equip all planned MMSL batteries.

Production engineering support provided by the Original Equipment Manufacturer covers engineering services to both the Department of the Navy and the Marine Corps. The goal is to ensure production quality, address technical challenges, and maintain schedule integrity. Engineering support costs are updated annually to reflect actual negotiated amounts and are essential for sustaining production and integration of the NSM into Marine Corps units.

Advance procurement is included to address the long lead times associated with key missile components such as jet engines, warheads, boosters, seeker assemblies, semiconductors, launchers, and airframes. Advance procurement funding in FY 2026 supports early purchase of these components to maintain production schedules and meet required delivery timelines. The advance procurement strategy is designed to reduce overall program costs and mitigate supply chain risks, ensuring timely fielding of NSM capabilities.

Multi-Year Procurement (MYP) is a central objective for the NSM program, with FY 2026 representing the third year of a five-year MYP contract. The MYP approach is justified by anticipated cost savings and production efficiencies, leveraging bulk purchases and advance procurement to lower unit costs. The FY 2026 budget reflects negotiated pricing based on current Navy cost models and recent sole source Foreign Military Sales buys. Full funding for all advance procurement items is included in the budget submission, supporting the goal of delivering a minimal viable capability for new MMSL batteries.

The NSM program's objectives are closely aligned with the Marine Corps' broader modernization efforts, particularly the transformation of artillery units into MMSL batteries capable of maritime interdiction. The program supports the operational deployment of NSM-equipped units, enhances joint Navy-Marine Corps capabilities, and ensures that procurement quantities and costs are reconciled annually to reflect actual contract awards and delivery schedules. The program also addresses supply chain challenges by incentivizing timely deliveries and maintaining a minimum sustaining rate for production.