Kongsberg Wins $404 Million Marine Corps NMESIS Launcher Contract

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS has won a firm-fixed-price contract worth up to $404.4 million to produce and sustain Naval Strike Missile launcher units, weapon control systems and supporting equipment for the Marine Corps’ Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS). The Marine Corps award covers full-rate production and sustainment, with work expected to be completed by Sept. 24, 2034. Kongsberg will perform 85% of the work in Norway and 15% in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

NMESIS Launcher Contract Details

Kongsberg will produce the Naval Strike Missile Launcher Unit, Weapon Control System and ancillary equipment used in the NMESIS launcher. The award also provides for sustainment support for those components. A related Marine Corps acquisition notice describes development support alongside production and sustainment for the launcher equipment.

The launcher and weapon control system are parts of a larger ground-based anti-ship capability, rather than the missiles themselves. According to the Marine Corps’ Long Range Fires program description, NMESIS pairs two Naval Strike Missiles with a remotely operated, vehicle-mounted launcher. The sole-source notice identifies the launcher unit, weapon control system and missile interfaces as interdependent elements of the system.

NMESIS Program Background

The Marine Corps is expanding NMESIS after initial fielding. Its October 2025 Force Design update said the first six launchers went to the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment in 2023 and set a goal of 18 launchers per medium-range missile system launcher battery by fiscal 2033. Marine Corps budget plans have also described Block II launcher and carrier procurement and additional equipment needed to field complete batteries.

The system has been used in Pacific exercises as the service develops its ability to position mobile anti-ship fires. In April 2025, the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment reported its first NMESIS deployment to the Philippines for Exercise Balikatan. The new award covers production and support for launcher equipment used in that broader fielding effort.

Award and Contractor Background

The contract was awarded without competition. In its acquisition notice, the Marine Corps said it lacked the technical data rights to the launcher unit, weapon control system and missile interfaces needed to buy the work competitively. No funds were obligated at award; funding will be committed through individual orders.

Kongsberg has other NMESIS control-system work underway. A 2025 award with a potential value of $47.7 million covers logistics support, engineering and Block II prototype hardware and software for the launcher’s weapon and fire control systems, with performance extending into September 2027. A separate award worth up to $5.8 million covers launcher-unit and weapon-control-system spare parts. Both awards concern equipment also addressed by the new production and sustainment contract.

This award was disclosed by the DoW in its daily press release. Additional contract details will be available on HigherGov in approximately 90 days under M6785426D1016 after the contract is formally disclosed by the government.