Latvia to acquire naval strike missile coastal defense system from Kongsberg

March 19, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The US Department of Defense has awarded Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace a $45.5 million firm-fixed-price contract to supply the Republic of Latvia with a naval strike missile (NSM) coastal defense system.

Illustration only; Archive; Credit: Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace

The contract, part of the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, includes options that could increase its total value to $56.3 million if exercised.

According to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in Washington, D.C., work will be carried out across multiple sites, with the bulk of production in Kongsberg, Norway, supplemented by contributions from Finland, Italy, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and several other locations.

“This acquisition strengthens Latvia’s coastal defense posture and reflects ongoing cooperation between NATO allies,” NAVSEA said.

The NSM system is designed to provide precision long-range strike capability against naval threats and can be integrated with Latvia’s existing defense infrastructure.

Under the current schedule, work is expected to be completed by July 2030, with potential continuation through November 2031 should all contract options be exercised.

Latvia, a NATO member on the eastern flank of the alliance, has been actively modernizing its military capabilities amid growing regional tensions, and the addition of the NSM coastal defense system underscores the country’s commitment to strengthening its deterrence posture.