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The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multi-role,
air-launched cruise missile An air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) is a cruise missile that is launched from a military aircraft. Current versions are typically standoff weapons which are used to attack predetermined land and naval targets with conventional weapon, conventio ...
under development by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and American company Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The JSM is derived from the Naval Strike Missile.


Development

A development of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) will feature an option for ground strike and a two-way communications line, so that the missile can communicate with the central control room or other missiles in the air. This missile will be integrated with the
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, supersonic Stealth aircraft, stealth strike fighters. A multirole combat aircraft designed for both Air superiority fighter, air superiority and att ...
. Studies have shown that the F-35 would be able to carry two of these in its internal bays, while four additional missiles could be carried externally. Lockheed Martin and Kongsberg signed a joint-marketing agreement for this air-launched version of the NSM, as well as an agreement committing both parties to integrating the JSM on the F-35 platform. The project is funded by Norway and Australia. Kongsberg signed a contract for the first phase of development of the JSM in April, 2009, which is scheduled for completion within 18 months. The JSM will have multicore computers running the
Integrity Integrity is the quality of being honest and having a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and Honesty, truthfulness or of one's actions. Integr ...
real-time operating system from Green Hills Software. Compared with the Naval Strike Missile, the Joint Strike Missile features: * A larger warhead * Form factor altered to allow the missile to fit into the F-35's internal bays * The ability to attack sea and land targets * Compatibility with various aircraft as launch platforms * Improved range: estimates include to more than 100 nmi low-low or more than hi-low flight profiles In November 2015, an
F-16 Fighting Falcon The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superio ...
successfully completed live-fire testing of the JSM at the Utah Test and Training Range. The integration of the JSM with the F-35, and testing in the United States is facilitated by Lone Star Analysis, under long term contract with the Norwegian Ministry of Defense. On 22 August 2024, Australia's Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, the Hon. Pat Conroy MP, announced a AU$850 million partnership agreement had been signed with Kongsberg's local subsidiary — Kongsberg Defence Australia — for the manufacture and servicing of the JSM (and NSM) for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at a new purpose built factory. The factory is to be constructed at RAAF Base Williamtown near the city of Newcastle in New South Wales. Manufacturing of missiles is expected to commence from 2027.


Other variants

Kongsberg were studying methods to deploy the JSM from Norway's submarines, and found shaping the missile to fit into the F-35's confined bomb-bay also enabled it to fit in the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System. A VL-JSM could also compete with the Lockheed LRASM for the U.S. Navy's OASuW Increment 2 for a ship-launched anti-ship missile. On 15 July 2014, Kongsberg and
Raytheon Raytheon is a business unit of RTX Corporation and is a major U.S. defense contractor and industrial corporation with manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. Founded in 1922, it merged in 2020 with Unite ...
announced that they had formed a teaming agreement to offer the JSM to the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
for their Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) requirement; Raytheon would produce JSMs for the American market. A teaming agreement is an interim agreement between partners which commits them to their roles during the development and marketing stage of a project. It would generally be transformed into a formal sub-contracting agreement once an order for delivery has been placed. The Navy plans to begin a competition for the OASuW requirement in 2017, which will likely pit the Kongsberg/Raytheon JSM against the Lockheed Martin AGM-158C LRASM.


Production

The serial production began in 2021.


Production facilities


Norway - Kongsberg

The main production facility for the JSM is located in Norway.


Australia - Kongsberg

Prior to the formal order of the JSM by the Australian Air Force in September 2024, Kongsberg announced in August 2024 that it was building a facility where the missile would be manufactured, in collaboration with the Australian government. In April 2025, construction started on the JSM and NSM factory in Newcastle Airport Precinct (co-located with RAAF Base Williamtown), and will be the first outside of Norway to build and maintain both types of missile.


United States - Kongsberg

In September 2024, Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace announced that it was building a new missile production facility in James City County in Virginia. The plan is to have a facility that will assemble, upgrade and repair the Naval Strike Missile and the Joint Strike Missile. The investment will amount to USD $100 million, and Kongsberg plans to hire 180 people.


Suppliers


United States

* Raytheon manufactures some of the components of the JSM. * Williams International supplies the F‐415 turbofan.


Operators


Current operators

; : The
Royal Norwegian Air Force The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) () is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian Armed Forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peacetime establishment is approximately 2,430 employees (officers, enlisted ...
ordered the JSM in October 2021 for their fleet of F-35 fighters. The initial delivery was expected for 2023. : The JSM entered service with the Norwegian Air Force in April 2025.


Future operators

; : List of orders: :* September 2024, contract valued at NOK 1 billion. ; : The German government announced to purchase the JSM in June 2025 for the German Air Force. The expected value of the contract would be NOK 6.5 billion. ; : The Japan Air Self-Defence Force chose the JSM as ASuW weapon for the F-35A as it can be carried internally. : List of orders: :* March 2019, contract awarded to supply the JSM starting in April 2021. :* November 2019, follow-on order valued at NOK 450 million (USD $49 million). :* December 2020, follow-on order valued at NOK 820 million. :* November 2024, 4th order valued at NOK 1.9 billion. ; : The Department of Defense selected the JSM for the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
.
List of orders: :* March 2023, plan to procure 268 JSM over five years: :** FY2024, 48 missiles ordered for a value of USD $141 million, to be produced in Norway. :** FY2025, 50 missiles ordered for a value of USD $165.9 million.


Potential operators

; : In April 2025, Belgian Minister of Defence Theo Francken announced Belgium would purchase JSM missiles for the F-35 jets in 2025. ; : In December 2021, the Finnish Air Force selected F-35 as their future fighter jet, and have selected JSM among other weaponry. As of 2024, no firm order has been confirmed. ; : In July 2024, the Italian parliament revealed that it would equip the 20 F-35B of the
Italian Navy The Italian Navy (; abbreviated as MM) is one of the four branches of Italian Armed Forces and was formed in 1946 from what remained of the ''Regia Marina'' (Royal Navy) after World War II. , the Italian Navy had a strength of 30,923 active per ...
with the JSM missile and the MBDA SPEAR 3. These aircraft can be operated from the two aircraft carriers of the Italian Navy.


See also

* * * * * *


References


External links


Official NSM product page at KDAOfficial JSM product page at KDADefpro.com:Norway conducted very successful NSM test firing (Febr 2009)Missile.index search
– Choose Development-Country: "Norway", then click "Search", then pick "NSM" from the results list (direct linking N/A)
Kongsberg test fires Naval Strike Missiles
– ''Jane's Navy International'', 8 August 2006
Capital Markets Day 2007 Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace
{{US missiles Anti-ship cruise missiles of Norway Anti-ship missiles of Norway Kongsberg Gruppen Surface-to-surface missiles of Norway Surface-to-surface missiles of the United States Military equipment introduced in the 2010s Anti-ship missiles of the United States