Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and TDW GmbH signed Cooperation Agreement
Paris, 18 June 2001
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) from Norway and TDW Gesellschaft für verteidigungs-technische Wirksysteme mbH (TDW) from Germany, a subsidary af EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, have signed a Cooperation Agreement for the development and production of a new generation warhead system for the NSM. This was announced by the companies during the Aerosalon Le Bourget 2001 (16 to 24 June 2001).
"The intention of this Agreement is to establish a long term cooperation between the companies and the NSM is considererd as a first step. The Agreement gives us all flexibility to extend this partnership also in further areas of missile production, integration, and maintenance", Dr. Helmut Muthig, CEO of TDW, said.
KDA is the prime contractor of the Royal Norwegian Navy for the development and production of the NSM, the only funded full scale development for a new anti-ship missile in the world today. In addition to TDW, EADS/Aerospatiale Matra Missiles of France is a partner in the development, with responsibility for among other the propulsion system of the NSM.
TDW will be the design authority for the warhead and the sole source during production phase.
The use of latest seeker technology, advanced materials and stealth design, combined with excellent flight performance give the NSM a very high operational flexibility and efficiency. This will be complemented by the outstanding performance of the new warhead utilizing latest fuzing technology.
The NSM can be launched from ships, helicopters and aircraft and is still considered in Germany to equip the new K 130 corvettes. The NSM will be the main surface weapon for the Royal Norwegian Navy on the new frigates of the "Fridtjof Nansen" class and on the new Fast Patrol Boats of the "Skjold" class. There is also a considerable international interest for the missile.
Persons to contact:
TDW
Wolfram Lautner
Phone: +49 89 3179 2549
Fax: +49 89 3179 3871
KDA
Hans Wergeland
Phone: +47 3273 9740
Fax: +47 3273 7950
