Kongsberg announced the selection on 22 October and said it would update the market once a contract had been signed. Neither the company nor the Danish defence ministry has said how many missiles will be ordered or when they will be delivered.
The JSM is a fifth-generation stealth air-to-surface missile that fits in the internal weapons bays of the F-35A. This means the aircraft can carry it without giving up its low-observable profile.
Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Norway and the U.S. have already chosen the missile. Denmark says the purchase will help it strengthen its own defences and contribute to NATO deterrence.
The Danish package also includes the Anthem cruise missile, made by U.S. company Covenant, which will give the armed forces a separate land-launched option. Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus said both purchases followed a recommendation from the Chief of Defence.
“These include the Norwegian Joint Strike Missile from Kongsberg, which can be used from our F-35 fighter aircraft, and the Anthem cruise missile from the American company Covenant, which can be launched from land,” Bruus said. “The acquisitions are a significant step towards making Denmark better able to defend itself, strengthen NATO and increase our ability to strike back.”
According to the ministry, both weapons rely on advanced navigation technology to hit targets accurately at long range. Their purpose is to deter attacks on Denmark and, if it comes to it, to strike targets deep in enemy territory.
