Defense and aerospace company Kongsberg announced that it was awarded a contract with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency to supply the joint strike missile (JSM) for Norway’s fleet of F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft.
The company reported that the contract is valued at nearly $475 million while the partnership between Kongsberg, the Norwegian Armed Forces and Norwegian Defence Research Establishment in the definition, development and test of the JSM has been a critical factor in developing a missile with such advanced capabilities.
In a written statement, Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace President Eirik Lie said: “The JSM, as part of the Norwegian F-35 fighter jet, enables the Norwegian Air Force to operate within the challenging and complex environment ensuring the defense of vital national interests.”
“The development of the missile has been ongoing since 2008, and with this contract, completes development and test and enters a full-rate production phase,” said Lie. “This program secures employment and business for Kongsberg and our extensive supply chain partners for years to come.”
The company also noted that the JSM is a fifth-generation stealth air-to-surface missile developed to fulfill the F-35’s anti-surface warfare and land attack capability needs.
“The missile can be carried internally ensuring the aircraft’s low-signature capabilities, and it has superior performance against well-defended sea- and land targets across long distances,” it added.
