NATO has released striking footage from the Aegir 25 exercises, showing Norwegian submarine KNM Uthaug launching a live torpedo that destroyed the decommissioned frigate KNM Trondheim during live-fire trials in the Andfjord area off the Norwegian coast.
The drills, held off Andøya, were designed to demonstrate the real-world strike power of modern submarines. According to NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk, the torpedo launches were intended to test and showcase the effectiveness of the submarine’s weapons system and its combat capabilities under realistic conditions.
The command stressed that:
“A submarine has great endurance, operates covertly, and has a unique ability to shape the course of battle.”
The multinational exercise brought together vessels and units from the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret), the Royal Navy and Poland, underlining NATO’s commitment to interoperability and collective defence in the strategically important Arctic region.
First operational NSM launch from HMS Somerset
In a separate but related event during Aegir 25, the Royal Navy reached an important milestone when the Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset carried out the first operational launch of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) by a UK warship.
The Plymouth-based frigate deployed to Norway’s Arctic missile range at Andøya to trial the advanced anti-ship weapon system.
The 400 kg NSM represents a major upgrade over the legacy Harpoon system, offering:
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significantly greater range (over 160 km),
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a stealthy sea-skimming flight profile to evade detection,
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high manoeuvrability and precision against both sea and coastal targets.
Commanding Officer Commander Matt Milligan praised his ship’s company:
“I am incredibly proud of the team for successfully conducting the first-in-class firing of the Naval Strike Missile. This is not a simple task and required an extraordinary amount of work from the ship’s company and the wider defence enterprise.”
The successful firing capped months of detailed planning and systems integration, carried out with support from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, the Norwegian manufacturer of the NSM.
The missile is now in service aboard HMS Richmond, HMS Somerset and HMS Portland.
NSM and the future of Royal Navy anti-ship capability
NSM will serve as a key element of the Royal Navy’s near- and medium-term anti-ship capability and is set to complement the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme, which will provide the Royal Navy’s principal long-range anti-ship missile for next-generation warships.
The future missile will arm new Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, which are being fitted with Mk 41 vertical launch systems, further enhancing the UK’s long-range maritime strike options.
Aegir 25: Arctic readiness and integrated fires
The Aegir 25 exercise ran until the end of September, with additional missile firings conducted:
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from land-based launchers, and
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by units of Norway’s Coastal Ranger Command.
Together, the submarine torpedo shots, NSM launches and coastal battery firings provided a comprehensive test of NATO’s ability to coordinate integrated maritime strike operations in the High North, showcasing allied readiness and deterrent power in the Arctic region.
