Kongsberg expands NSM and JSM missile production with new facility in the U.S.

The Virginia facility marks Kongsberg’s latest investment in missile production, following recent expansions in Norway and the announcement of another new factory in Australia. Located near key US Navy facilities, the new site will provide additional production capacity, sustainment, and in-country technology refresh capabilities for the NSM and JSM. This expansion aligns with Kongsberg’s commitment to supporting collective defence capabilities and meeting the needs of its international allies.

“The new missile production facilities in the US, Australia, and Norway address the strong and long-term demand for our unique technology and the critical need to strengthen collective defence capabilities,” said Geir Håøy, CEO of Kongsberg. “Kongsberg has a proud history in the US, and we are delighted to continue to invest in the country to support American interests while creating jobs locally.”

This new US facility is the second missile production site Kongsberg has announced within the past two months. The decision to establish a manufacturing base in the United States was influenced by potential opportunities for a multiyear procurement contract from the US Department of Defense. The NSM and JSM are of particular interest to the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, and Kongsberg’s decision aims to enhance service and supply chain capabilities for these critical missile systems within the US.

Eirik Lie, president of Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, highlighted the strategic importance of the new facility: “The US Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force are important customers for Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile. Their demand signals gave us the predictability we needed to make this investment in the United States. This will allow us to better serve our allies in the US and continue to expand that supply chain locally, building capacity and redundancy for these critical capabilities.”

Kongsberg’s expansion in the US includes a significant financial commitment, with plans to invest more than USD 100 million into the Commonwealth of Virginia over the next few years. This investment will encompass property, plant, and equipment, and is expected to create over 180 jobs in the region. Additionally, Kongsberg will expand its core US production facility in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Heather Armentrout, president and general manager of Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace, Inc., the US subsidiary of Kongsberg, stated, “Kongsberg is investing in a big way in the US market by making Virginia the US home of our new missile factory. This is in addition to expansion at our core US production facility in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.”

The new Virginia facility will be equipped to assemble, upgrade, and repair both the NSM and JSM missiles. The NSM is an anti-ship missile known for its superior operational performance and high survivability against enemy defence systems. The JSM, on the other hand, is an air-launched strike missile designed for complex missions, including Anti-surface Warfare (ASuW) and land attack. Notably, the JSM is designed to be deployed within the weapons bay of the US Air Force’s F-35A, maintaining the aircraft’s low observability throughout strike missions.

Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace continues to be a key supplier to the US military, providing Remote Weapon Stations and remote turrets to the US Army and Marine Corps, and supporting various defence programmes, including the Naval Strike Missiles for the US Navy and Marine Corps, and the NASAMS air defence system for the National Capital Region.