The US Air Force has taken a significant step in enhancing its missile capabilities by awarding Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace a substantial contract valued at $240.9 million. This firm-fixed-price agreement focuses on the production of the second lot of the Joint Strike Missile (JSM).
This contract encompasses not just the missiles themselves but also includes all-up rounds, containers, test hardware, and associated support items. The work associated with this contract will be executed in Kongsberg, Norway, with a completion date projected for November 30, 2028.
In a sequence of procurement actions leading up to this agreement, the first production lot was ordered in May 2024 for $141 million, followed by an additional order worth $69.5 million in January 2025. Deliveries from these earlier contracts are expected to begin in 2026. While the exact number of missiles included in the most recent contract has not been disclosed, the Air Force indicated plans to acquire a total of 268 JSMs over the next five years.
The Joint Strike Missile is an advanced, air-launched variant of Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile. It is specifically adapted for integration onto the Lockheed Martin-built F-35A and F-35C aircraft during its initial development phase. The versatility of the JSM allows it to be carried both internally and externally by the F-35, enhancing the aircraft’s capability for a variety of strike missions targeting both maritime and land assets.
One of the key features of the JSM is its ability to fit into the F-35’s internal weapons bay, which helps maintain the aircraft’s low-observable characteristics, thereby improving its survivability. The JSM is designed as an interim stand-off anti-ship weapon while awaiting the integration of the larger AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile on the F-35 platform.
In terms of specifications, the 4-meter (13-foot) missile boasts an impressive range of up to 350 miles (563 kilometers) and has a weight of approximately 407 kilograms (897 pounds). It is equipped with a substantial 260-pound (118-kilogram) warhead and employs a combination of GPS and inertial navigation systems for midcourse guidance. In the terminal phase of its flight, the missile utilizes an imaging infrared seeker for precise targeting. Furthermore, the passive seeker’s resistance to radio-frequency jamming significantly enhances its operational effectiveness, making the JSM a formidable asset in modern warfare.
