The estimated value of the future contract is $110 million, Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.
According to DSCA, Latvia’s government has requested Pentagon to buy Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence System, including “tactical, telemetered, and training missiles; containers; mobile operational platforms; integration equipment; ordnance handling equipment (OHE); training equipment and aids; technical publications and data; training; spares; U.S. Government and contractor technical and product support or assistance; and other related elements of logistical and program support”.
The procurement of the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence System will improve Latvia’s capability to meet current and future threats in the Baltic Sea maritime domain. Latvia’s increased coastal defence capability and interoperability with U.S. and NATO armed forces will contribute to both U.S. and Latvian defence and security objectives in the Baltics. Latvia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces, DSCA said in a statement.
“There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale”, DSCA said.
According to Kongsberg, the manufacturer of the Naval Strike Missiles, the NSM CDS is a high-performance ground based Coastal Defence System. It has unique features with a net centric architecture which enables multiple simultaneous engagements and over the horizon (OTH) targeting. These capabilities, combined with the unique NSM target recognition, shapes a highly potent and vast SSM system for the future. The system can be closely integrated and adapted to a country’s adjacent weapons and command and control systems. This expands the defended area and enhances the total fighting capability of the force.
The NSM CDS is composed of the following major items:
- The Fire Control Center (FCC) providing fire control and Battle Management Command Control Communication Computers and Information (BMC4I),
- The Naval Strike Missile Launcher fire unit, a canister protected weapon platform with the NSM missile,
- Sea surveillance and tracking radar – customer selectable (optional).
NSM CDS system is selected by Poland, USA, and Romania. The NSM missile is selected for ship-based systems by Norway, Malaysia, Germany, USA, Canada, Australia, Spain, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. NSM is interchangeable between ships and trucks.