HMS Portland was commissioned under the command of Commander Matthew Court. Credit: Kevin Shipp/Shutterstock.

The UK Royal Navy has bolstered the firepower of its Type 23 Duke-class frigate, HMS Portland, with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM), enhancing its anti-surface warfare capabilities.

A statement posted on the warship’s X said: “HMS Portland successfully embarked eight Naval Strike Missiles, restoring our anti-surface capability. This is a big step forward in ensuring we are Global, Modern and Ready and further strengthens partnerships with our NATO allies.”

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Developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, the NSM is designed to be launched from a diverse platform against a variety of targets on sea and land. The capability operates near Mach 1 speed and allows to target significant naval vessels at distances exceeding 100 miles.

Intended for enhanced performance and resilience against various defence countermeasures, the NSM was initially adopted by the Norwegian Navy in 2012.

In 2022, the UK and Norway announced plans to strengthen their defence partnership. As part of a collaboration with the Norwegian government, the Royal Navy revealed plans to equip 11 Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers with NSM.

The NSM will serve as an interim armament for the fleets. This stopgap measure will remain in place until the introduction of a more advanced, long-range anti-ship missile, designated as the ‘future offensive surface weapon’.

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Weighing approximately 400kg, it maintains a low altitude above sea level and performs manoeuvres to bypass enemy radar and defence systems.

The installation of the missile on the 11 designated warships will be undertaken by UK defence contractors Babcock and BAE Systems.

The Type 23 frigates have been adapted to a range of missions including warfighting and maritime security tasks.

Currently, the Type 23 fleet is undergoing comprehensive upgrades that include new radar systems, propulsion units, and advanced Sea Ceptor missile systems.

The NSM is also being supplied to the US Marine Corps under the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) Programme.

In November 2024, Kongsberg Defence secured a multi-year contract with the US Navy for NSM deliveries over five years.

The missile system is currently being outfitted on both littoral combat ships and the new Constellation-class frigates for the US Navy.

Employed as a primary armament by Norway’s frigates and coastal corvettes, the NSM has been chosen by multiple nations including Australia, the US (Navy and Marine Corps), Poland, Romania, Canada and more.