The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Norwegian defense company Kongsberg a contract worth approximately $240.9 million for the second production lot of Joint Strike Missiles (JSM). The agreement includes the manufacture of complete missile rounds, transport containers, test equipment, and associated support items. Production activities will be carried out in Norway and are scheduled for completion by November 30, 2028.
The award comes more than two years after Kongsberg secured the first JSM Lot 1 production contract from the USAF in May 2024, further strengthening the missile’s role within the service’s long-range precision strike portfolio.
Developed from Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM), the Joint Strike Missile is an air-launched precision cruise missile designed primarily for integration with the F-35A Lightning II. Measuring around 4 meters in length and weighing approximately 416 kilograms, the missile fits entirely within the fighter’s internal weapons bay, allowing the aircraft to maintain its stealth characteristics during operations.
The JSM is capable of striking targets at ranges exceeding 350 kilometers while flying at high subsonic speeds, providing F-35 operators with a powerful stand-off attack capability. In addition to the United States, several allied nations have adopted the missile for their F-35 fleets, including Japan, which received its first missiles in March 2026, along with Belgium, Germany, and Norway.
