DEFENCE EQUIPMENT: REQUIREMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR KONGSBERG

While the free societies of the West see little prospect of becoming embroiled in any major state-on-state conflict, it is a salutary fact that on average approximately 30 wars or conflicts continue to rage annually in other less stable parts of the globe. Meanwhile, there is continuing concern over the spread of international terrorism, and of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and it is acknowledged that weak and failing states can affect the stability and security of economically important regions or trading routes nearby. Such strife may spark unrest or conflict with neighbouring states, the effect of which is to send ripples that can be felt all across an increasingly globalised world.

Since 9/11, many nations have taken steps to tighten homeland security and improve inter-agency cooperation. There has also been a greater focus on the protection of offshore resources within national economic exclusion zones. Environmental and ecological protection has also become a greater priority.

In summary, western governments are less worried about defence, but increasingly concerned about security. As a result, there is an increasing propensity today for crisis management, peacekeeping, peace support and humanitarian relief operations in theatres of instability well away from the traditional operating areas.

This means armed forces today are smaller than before, but are required to be far more mobile in order to be able to intervene at long range and short notice in areas of tension, unrest or conflict. They must exploit modern information and communications technology to achieve decisive information superiority. They must operate within often constrained rules of engagement that demand measured use of force and minimum collateral effects. And they must do their utmost to ensure the survivability of force elements in the face of diverse threats.

KONGSBERG's own product portfolio well reflects these profound changes and challenges. The company's capability in command, control and communications meets the growing need for real-time situational awareness and network-enabled capability. Examples include integrated air defence systems that provide command, control and fire control for missile and radar systems supplied by Raytheon, and tactical communications solutions for VHF data and voice, secure broadband infrastructure, and battle management systems for mobile forces.

The need to deliver pinpoint strikes against difficult targets has created a need for a new generation of 'smart' precision-guided weapons. KONGSBERG's strong capability in this area, proven first with the Penguin anti-ship missile and more recently with the successful development of the NSM (Naval Strike Missile), is now being directed towards a new product, an air-launched Joint Strike Missile (JSM) sized for internal carriage aboard the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Building on NSM, the JSM would be a true long range, multi-role weapon capable of precision attack against a wide variety of land, littoral and naval targets. Joint marketing is being conducted with Lockheed Martin.

There is also an increased focus on force protection as greater efforts are taken to reduce risk to deployed forces. KONGSBERG's PROTECTOR remote weapon station, which provides self-protection for armoured fighting vehicles without exposing the operator to the risks of hostile fire, is today acknowledged as the global market leader in this area.

Already in service with the US Army, it has been selected to meet the service's CROWS II programme, and is also the remote weapon station of choice for 10 other nations. A lightweight version, known as PROTECTOR Lite, is also in production, and a 'marinised' SEA PROTECTOR has also been demonstrated.

A further trend is towards the introduction of unmanned autonomous systems to perform reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence-gathering and interdiction operations in difficult and dangerous environments. The combined expertise of Kongsberg Maritime and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has been applied in this market in the shape of the HUGIN 1000 autonomous underwater vehicle, already selected by both the Norwegian and Finnish navies to serve their mine reconnaissance and rapid environmental assessment needs.