Kongsberg Wins Up to $404 Million for Marine Corps NMESIS Launchers and Support

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS has won a U.S. Marine Corps contract worth up to $404.4 million for full-rate production and sustainment support of the Naval Strike Missile Launcher Unit, Weapon Control System and ancillary equipment used in the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS). The firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery contract runs through Sept. 24, 2034. Most work will take place in Kongsberg, Norway, with the remainder in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

NMESIS Launcher Contract Details

Kongsberg will produce and support the launcher unit and Weapon Control System that form part of the NMESIS launcher, along with supporting equipment. A Marine Corps notice describing the work also calls for development support. The award covers launcher and control-system equipment, rather than the Naval Strike Missiles themselves.

The launcher unit and Weapon Control System must function together through their missile interfaces. The Marine Corps said in its sole-source notice that it lacks the technical data rights needed for another contractor to ensure those subsystems work together to meet NMESIS requirements. According to the award notice, 85% of the work will be performed in Kongsberg and 15% in Johnstown.

NMESIS Program Background

NMESIS gives Marine units a land-based anti-ship capability. A Marine Corps environmental assessment describes the system as pairing Kongsberg’s launcher unit with ROGUE-Fires, a remotely operated carrier built on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle chassis. The launcher and control equipment covered by Kongsberg’s award are therefore part of a larger system that also relies on missiles, targeting and communications.

The Marine Corps’ 2025 force-design update says the first six NMESIS launchers were fielded to 3d Marine Littoral Regiment in 2023 and sets a goal of 18 launchers per Medium-Range Missile System Launcher battery by fiscal 2033. The regiment formally received the system in November 2024 after initial operational testing and evaluation. Separately, the Navy’s fiscal 2026 budget request sought NMESIS development funding for Weapon Control System work, communications and software improvements.

Award and Contractor Background

The Marine Corps did not compete the new contract. Its sole-source notice cited the government’s lack of technical data rights for the launcher unit, Weapon Control System and missile interfaces. No money was obligated at award; funding will be committed as individual delivery and task orders are issued.

Kongsberg also holds a related NMESIS award worth up to $47.7 million for logistics support, engineering services and prototype hardware and software development for launcher control subsystems, with a potential performance end in September 2027. A separate award worth up to $5.8 million covers NMESIS launcher-unit and Weapon Control System spare parts through a potential July 2028 completion date. The Navy also announced a $960.8 million missile-production contract with Kongsberg in November 2024 for Naval Strike Missiles used by naval and Marine forces.

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.