Norway's Kongsberg's new F35 Missile unveiled

[Gman]

The new joint strike missile, supposed to be very maneuverable, stealthy, and have a 300km range.  I wonder if any nations buying the F35, like mine, Canada, will look at procuring some of these, as Kongsberg says they are making it primarily for the JSF platform.  Apparently the F35 will be able to carry 2 internally, and the Norwegians are going to use it as their primary anti-ship missile with the F35, as most other powered anti ship missiles don't fit in the F35's weapons bays.  I'm assuming this includes the Harpoon series, that would suck for countries with stockpiles Harpoon anti ship missiles that are buying the F35, to have to mount them externally and ruin the radar signature of the F35, the primary reason for buying it, at least in the anti-ship role.  Anyone know if the Harpoon is too big for the F35 internal bays?  If it is, I bet Kongsberg will be able to sell some of these new missiles to countries buying the F35.  Here in Canada it'll likely be the only fighter we have in 10 years, so for anti shipping it's sort of the only go-to guy for the future.

[GScholz]

The Americans are buying it and Kongsberg has had a long partnership with the American defense industry. The Penguin missile (AGM-119 in the U.S.) was marketed and sold with the F-16 (since Norway bought the F-16 and adapted the missile for it). The new missile is supposedly at least ten years ahead of anything else out there.

We've already equipped our missile frigates and missile corvettes with the new Naval Strike Missile:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deFNmWmr-Yc

Since we're buying the F-35 we'll probably be offering the missile to other F-35 buyers like we did with the Penguin.

The Americans test-fired it last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsGEvAHWagU

[Gman]

Very cool videos.  Norway has some pretty nice smaller vessels in its Navy.  Us Canadians have deployed to Norway for lots of exercises practicing defending Nato's Northern flank over the years.  Our Navy is planning on building 40 or more new combat vessels over the next ten years, hopefully we end up with something similar to your Skojd (spelling) class small attack ships to replace our current coastal patrol ships, which have a very limited mine sweeping capability, and a very old 40mm gun system, and a couple of .50 cals.  A new light attack/patrol ship with a modern 57mm gun like the LCS Frigates the USA has, and 2x4 cell launchers for this new Kongsberg missile would fit the bill very nicely, giving us a faster, less observable, and far better armed updated patrol ship.

[GScholz]

Yes, we're just finishing upgrading/replacing our naval assets. We're very proud of our new Skjold (Shield) class stealth corvette; a unique catamaran/hovercraft hybrid capable of 60+ knots and all sea states. Very difficult to detect in littoral waters and it's the fastest armed watercraft in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nT471BKdmI

Just one more item left on the list: Replacing our Ula class submarines with something newer and AIP capable.

I seem to remember Canada replacing her submarine fleet a couple of years ago?

[GScholz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYFMZ_wuqXI

One of our older attack boats off the coast of Lebanon. We've always loved speed, but daym that was close. 

Damn Swedes and their water hose...

[bozon]

What were Swedes and Norwegians boats doing in the eastern Med? got lost, or trying to get to Constantinople again?

[Krusty]

The stealth attack capabilities of the F-35 will still be intact if needed. Nations that have stockpiles of Harpoons, etc, will most likely still be able to mount them under wings. If they're loading harpoons for homeland maritime patrols chances are the stealth nature of the airframe isn't quite so important (as compared to a first-strike invasion move, where you'd want enemy ground radars to be unable to detect you).

And, still the radar cross-section of a couple of pylons and a couple of missiles is WAY less than that of a full cross-section of an F-15 or what-have-you.

[GScholz]

What were Swedes and Norwegians boats doing in the eastern Med? got lost, or trying to get to Constantinople again?

The Norwegian boat had "UN" pained on the deck, so I guess both boats were there in support of the UN mission in Lebanon. We have boats/ships/subs all over the Med, coast of Africa and Middle East engaged in anti-piracy and anti-terrorist activities. We have "tropicalized" a couple of subs so they can operate in the Persian Gulf and off the coast of Pakistan, where they're used for intelligence gathering.

Here we are in the Gulf of Aden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuwUsSlVh1I

[bozon]

The Norwegian boat had "UN" pained on the deck, so I guess both boats were there in support of the UN mission in Lebanon. We have boats/ships/subs all over the Med, coast of Africa and Middle East engaged in anti-piracy and anti-terrorist activities. We have "tropicalized" a couple of subs so they can operate in the Persian Gulf and off the coast of Pakistan, where they're used for intelligence gathering.

Here we are in the Gulf of Aden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuwUsSlVh1I

The people in the little boat were pirates?! Man, they look nothing like Jack Sparrow, what a disappointment. I guess the pirates of Aden are different from the pirates of the Caribbean.

[GScholz]

Jack Sparrow with an RPG... Would have been something to watch...