On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) announced that it has signed a contract worth 4.7 billion NOK with a new, undisclosed customer for the delivery of JSM (Joint Strike Missile) anti-ship missiles.
Images: KDA
This will be the sixth operator of the system, joining Norway, Japan, Australia, the US, and Germany.
While the manufacturer does not disclose the customer’s identity, on May 18 of this year the US Department of State issued approval for the potential sale to Belgium of an undisclosed quantity of JSM missiles in a package valued at a maximum of 236 million USD. The maximum order value here is, however, significantly smaller.
Previously, Finland and Italy had declared interest in the purchase, and Poland, which is seeking an anti-ship missile for the F-35A Husarz, has also expressed interest in this weapons system, with the larger AGM-158C LRASM from Lockheed Martin also being considered.
JSM
The JSM is a fifth-generation anti-ship missile built using low observable (stealth) technology, developed to fill gaps in the F-35A’s precision surface strike capabilities. It is the only missile of its class that can be carried in the internal weapons bay of the F-35A and F-35C (in the case of the F-35B, it can only be carried on underwing hardpoints). In the latest Block 4 configuration with Technical Refresh 3 (TR3) equipment, the F-35A will also be capable of striking ground targets.
The missile measures 3.95 m in length and weighs 410 kg. The JSM was previously integrated with the F-15, F-16, and F/A-18. Its first flight with an American F-16 took place in November 2015, and with a Norwegian aircraft three years later.
The JSM seeker features an autonomous target recognition system based on imagery stored in computer memory, combined with an infrared sensor, inertial navigation system (INS), GPS, and a laser altimeter. Depending on the target, this allows the operator to program the type of attack, the point of impact, and the detonation force of the 125 kg fragmentation-blast warhead. The operator also has the ability to abort the attack at any point during flight via a two-way data link.
To meet demand for both JSM and NSM missiles, Kongsberg will expand its production capabilities in the US and Australia.
KONGSBERG has signed a contract with a value of NOK 4.7 billion for the delivery of the Joint Strike Missile to a new customer. The country is the sixth nation to acquire the missile for its fighter fleet.
🔗 https://t.co/UvlcAprU5u#JSM #JointStrikeMissile #Defence pic.twitter.com/RYavKfku95
— KONGSBERG (@kongsbergasa) July 1, 2026