Latvia to buy $110 million Naval Strike Missile system from US

Europe, News, US May 6, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System (NSM CDS) to Latvia. Latvia’s government seeks to acquire the weapons to bolster its Baltic Sea shore defense capacities.

According to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s statement, the estimated $110 million sale includes “tactical, telemetered, and training missiles, containers, mobile operational platforms, integration equipment, ordnance handling equipment, training equipment, and aids.”

The statement adds that the system would enhance Latvia’s coastal defense capabilities and its interoperability with the U.S. and NATO forces in the region. The U.S. and NATO allies are seeking to secure the Baltic Seafront in the wave of increasing threats posed by Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Latvian Defense Minister Inara Murniece also commented on the purchase of the Naval Strike Missile system by stating that “The acquisition of this missile system marks the transition of the armed forces to new defense capabilities with a greater firepower and target destruction range, and it will significantly strengthen the defense of Latvia’s coast.”

Riga has recently increased its focus on modernizing its military power, particularly its naval strength, as it aims to spend more than $1.1 billion on military modernization programs this year. The amount accounts for 2.25% of Latvia’s annual GDP, more than many of its fellow NATO member states.

Latvia is a part of the Joint Defense Initiative for the Baltic along with Estonia and Lithuania. It is the first line of defense for the NATO member states in the Baltic Sea.

Latvia military — *^{NATO and European Union member Latvia plans to gradually raise its defense budget to 2.5% of GDP by 2025. (Image Credit: Latvia National Armed Forces)}*

In addition to the coastal defense equipment, Latvia has also procured High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, aerial defense systems from the U.S. A batch of six HIMARS systems arrived in Riga this spring.

Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System

The Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System (NSM CDS) is jointly produced by the U.S.-based Raytheon Systems and Norway’s Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace. The Naval Strike Missile has a range of 185 kilometers and it is capable of multiple simultaneous over-the-horizon engagements.

Along with the U.S. and Norway, the primary producers of NSM CDS, several countries are using Naval Strike Missiles for coastal defense. The list includes Poland, Romania, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Australia, and Canada.