Germany has signed a 3.5-billion-krone ($380-million) contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to acquire additional Joint Strike Missiles for its future fleet of 35 F-35 fighter aircraft. The agreement expands ongoing German-Norwegian defense cooperation, which already includes Naval Strike Missiles and submarine programs. The stealth-compatible JSM is specifically designed to fit inside the F-35’s internal weapons bay while maintaining the aircraft’s low radar signature. Capable of striking both naval and land targets at ranges of up to 350 kilometers, the missile uses advanced GPS, inertial navigation, and terrain-reference mapping systems to operate effectively even in contested environments.
