December 13 (SeeNews) - Norwegian defence related systems and products supplier Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace said on Tuesday it has been awarded a 1.35 billion NOK ($135 million/ 128 million euro) contract by U.S.-based Raytheon Missiles & Defense for the delivery of a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Coastal Defence System to Romania.
The NSM can be launched from both land-and sea-based platforms and is already in use by, or chosen by 11 countries, Kongsberg said in a statement filed with the Oslo Stock Exchange.
"The NSM-based system will provide Romania with the most modern and effective coastal defence available today. The contract also continues the successful cooperation we have with Raytheon Missiles & Defense," Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace president Eirik Lie said.
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace is one of three business units of Norway's Kongsberg Gruppen and supplier of defence and space related systems and products, mainly anti-ship missiles, military communications, and command and weapons control systems for naval vessels and air-defence applications, according to its website. The group has more than 12,000 employees in 40 countries and booked a total revenue of NOK 27.5 billion in 2021.
In March, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced that Romania needs to increase defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product from 2%, following the Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
Romania, which joined NATO in 2004, has said it plans to spend a total of 9.8 billion euro ($10.35 billion) until 2026 to boost its defence capabilities.
(1 NOK=0.0947 euro)