Leidos Australia and Kongsberg Defence Australia have entered into a strategic agreement to study the integration of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) onto Leidos’ autonomous Sea Archer and Longbow uncrewed surface vessels. The initiative aims to demonstrate how advanced missiles aboard USVs could enhance long-range maritime strike missions by combining precision firepower with autonomous naval platforms.
The Naval Strike Missile is a highly survivable, sea-skimming cruise missile designed for complex maritime environments. It incorporates autonomous target identification and advanced maneuvering during its terminal phase, making it capable of penetrating sophisticated air-defense networks. With a strike range of more than 300 kilometers, the NSM offers a powerful capability advantage when deployed from unmanned vessels.
Leidos’ Sea Archer USV is currently under development in Australia and features a modular, reconfigurable design suited for strike operations, ISR roles, electronic warfare, and logistics support. The platform leverages Leidos’ autonomy software and AI-driven command systems to deliver speeds up to 40 knots, an operational range of 1,500 nautical miles, and payload capacity exceeding 900 kilograms.
The Longbow version further expands mission flexibility with a payload capacity of 3,000 kilograms and propulsion provided by four 300-horsepower OXE diesel engines. With a range of over 2,750 nautical miles, Longbow is designed for extended-endurance missions. Integrating the NSM onto these unmanned vessels could position them as a critical future asset for long-range strike, distributed maritime operations, and autonomous fleet support.
