Kongsberg Defence Australia and Leidos Australia are partnering to evaluate the integration of the Naval Strike Missile into Leidos’ next-generation uncrewed surface vessels, the Sea Archer and Longbow. The collaboration aims to show how combining the NSM with autonomous USVs can extend strike reach and enhance maritime operational flexibility. The NSM, known for its sea-skimming flight profile and autonomous terminal guidance, can engage targets beyond 300 km while executing evasive maneuvers to defeat air defense systems. Leidos’ Sea Archer USV is designed for modular mission sets and features high-speed performance, long endurance, and advanced AI-enabled battle-management software. It supports payloads over 900 kg and ranges up to 1,500 nautical miles. The Longbow USV expands this capability with a 3,000-kg payload capacity and over 2,750 nautical miles of range, powered by four marine diesel engines.
