KONGSBERG’s JSM contract with USAF reaches $208M total

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) has been awarded a $70 million modification to a previously awarded contract by the US Department of Defense for the production of Joint Strike Missiles (JSM). This modification increases the total value of the contract to $208 million, with work to be carried out at Kongsberg, Norway. The project is expected to be completed by September 2027.

In a statement, Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, commented: "We are pleased to welcome the US Air Force to the JSM user group and look forward to continuing to support US defense capabilities with strike missiles from KONGSBERG."

The contract modification includes missile rounds, containers, test hardware, and other support items. Funding for this initiative comes from the US Air Force’s fiscal year 2024 procurement missile funds.

Previous Announcement

This development follows an earlier announcement on June 3, 2024, when KONGSBERG signed an Undefinitized Contract Action (UCA) with the US Air Force for JSM delivery to equip F-35A aircraft. That agreement, valued at up to $141 million, marked a significant step as the JSM became the internal strike missile capability for the world’s largest F-35A Lightning II operator. Deliveries under this contract are set to begin in 2026.

Eirik Lie stated at the time, “The selection of JSMs by both the USAF and the Royal Norwegian Air Force fully supports NATO’s vision for interchangeability of equipment between allied nations.”

About the Joint Strike Missile (JSM)

The JSM is an advanced air-launched strike missile designed to fit into the internal weapons bay of the F-35A. It is capable of handling complex missions such as Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) and land attacks. The missile’s primary targets include high-value and heavily defended assets on land, sea, or in coastal waters. With features like off-board and in-flight mission planning, the JSM enhances the F-35’s precision strike capability.

Developed by KONGSBERG under a contract with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA), the JSM represents a critical component in modernizing NATO’s defense strategy.