US defense contractor Raytheon is teaming with Ducommun to build fire control systems for the Naval Strike Missile, or NSM, an advanced weapon that Raytheon is offering for the U.S. Navy’s over-the-horizon requirement for its littoral combat ships and future frigates.
Developed by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, the Naval Strike Missile is a long-range, precision anti-ship and land-attack missile that provides superior strike capability against heavily defended land and sea targets.
The weapon originated in Norway, and Raytheon and Kongsberg Gruppen are teaming to produce it in the United States and make the technology available to the Navy. Raytheon is assembling a manufacturing and supplier team for U.S. production of the weapon.
Raytheon said the partnership with partnership would support manufacturing jobs at Ducommun’s Berryville and Huntsville, Arkansas, operations.
“As one of America’s best technology manufacturers, Ducommun brings the right expertise to the NSM program,” said Mike Jarrett, Raytheon Air Warfare Systems vice president. “Producing NSM in the United States is a win all the way around for American jobs, our men and women in uniform, and it’s a great value for the Navy.”
Work on the fire control systems is expected to begin in late 2017 at both the Berryville and Huntsville locations.