Leidos Australia and Kongsberg Sign MOU to Advance USV Strike Capability
Sydney, Australia – 6 November 2025: Leidos Australia and Kongsberg Defence Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the integration of Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) with Leidos’ next-generation uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), Sea Archer and its larger variant, Longbow.
Building on Leidos’ proven success in launching missiles from unmanned vessels, the partnership aims to demonstrate how integrating the NSM with advanced USVs could extend the reach, responsiveness and adaptability of maritime strike possibilities.
Kongsberg’s ship-based NSM is a sea-skimming, precision-guided cruise missile capable of engaging targets at a range of more than 300 km. Designed for survivability, the NSM features autonomous target recognition and advanced terminal manoeuvres to evade modern defences.
Sea Archer, currently under construction in Australia, is a high-speed, long-range USV designed to support modular payloads for strike, electronic warfare, logistics resupply and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Equipped with Leidos’ advanced autonomy software and AI-powered battle management technologies, the vessel reaches speeds up to 40 knots, has a range of 1,500 nautical miles and supports a payload of over 900 kg.
The larger Longbow variant has an increased payload capacity of 3,000 kgs and is powered by four (4) OXE marine diesel engines with 300 horsepower supporting a range in excess of 2,750 nautical miles.
Currently at the proof-of-concept stage, there is potential to explore NSM integration with a variety of Leidos USVs. Further development and integrated payload capabilities are being trialled both in the US and in Australia in 2026.
“This MOU represents a significant step forward in exploring a mission-ready, sovereign maritime strike capability for Australia,” said Paul Chase, chief executive of Leidos Australia.
“By combining the proven performance of the NSM with the flexibility and endurance of a Longbow Sea Archer, we are offering Defence a potent, adaptable and locally supported solution for future operational needs.”
About Leidos
Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Leidos Australia is a trusted partner to the Australian Government, leveraging global experience and a network of partners to deliver solutions that support intelligence, defence, aviation, border protection, and health markets while protecting and improving the Australian way of life. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.leidos.com For details on Sea Archer, see Leidos Australia Sea Archer.
About Kongsberg Defence Australia
Kongsberg Defence is a premier supplier of defence products and systems for command and control, surveillance, space, tactical communications, remote weapon stations and missiles systems. In addition, the company has extensive capabilities within advanced composite manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul within the aircraft and helicopter market. For more information on Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile, visit: Kongsberg NSM.
Certain statements in this announcement constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These statements are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the “Risk Factors” set forth in Leidos’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Leidos does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.
