Marine Corps Awarded Kongsberg Missile Contract
The U.S. Marine Corps has finalized a $404.4 million agreement for production of Naval Strike Missile systems.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Military
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The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded a $404.4 million contract to Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for the production of Naval Strike Missile Launcher Units. This non-competitive award covers systems and weapons control hardware to support ongoing littoral modernization efforts.
Why it matters
The contract reflects the Marine Corps prioritization of anti-ship capabilities following its decision to cancel plans for a ground-launched Tomahawk program. The service utilized sole-source authority to secure the equipment, citing that only one provider could meet the technical requirements.
The contract, which extends through September 2034, is supported by a fiscal 2027 budget request for 32 launchers and 103 Naval Strike Missiles. Each missile weighs 407 kg and is designed for integration with the ROGUE-Fires vehicle built by Oshkosh Defense.
The players
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace
This is a Norwegian technology company that specializes in the development and production of advanced defense systems and aerospace components.
U.S. Marine Corps
This is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations.
Oshkosh Defense
This company is a leading manufacturer of tactical vehicles used by the United States military and its international allies.
3rd Marine Littoral Regiment
This is a specialized infantry unit within the Marine Corps designed for operations in contested maritime environments.
The details
Production work for the missile systems will be divided between Norway, which will handle 85% of the manufacturing, and Pennsylvania, which will manage the remaining 15%. This deal secures the supply chain for the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) following the initial delivery of units to the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment in late 2024.
Timeline
November 2024: The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment received the first NMESIS launchers.
July 2026: Kongsberg received a $50.3 million contract modification.
September 25, 2026: The Department of War announced the new contract.
Fiscal 2027: The budget request includes 32 launchers and 103 missiles.
September 2034: The contract work is scheduled for completion.
Political Context
The Marine Corps justified this $404.4 million award by invoking specific federal regulatory provisions that permit sole-source contracts when a single entity uniquely satisfies system requirements. Opponents of such non-competitive awards often argue that they limit cost efficiency and reduce opportunities for smaller defense contractors to compete for military supply chains.
This defense expenditure signifies a shift in taxpayer-funded military priorities toward anti-ship capabilities at the expense of other cancelled platforms. While it does not change personal income taxes, it underscores the scale of federal spending directed toward long-term naval modernization projects.
The takeaway
The move underscores the military transition toward specialized, mobile anti-ship systems for littoral combat. Readers should note that defense budget requests now emphasize these specific missile launcher platforms as central components of future operational readiness.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest procurement and modernization trends in the Military section.
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Should the U.S. military prioritize investing in more long-range ground-based anti-ship missile launchers?
