The customer intends to use the missile with multirole combat aircraft. The supplied input indicates that this implies use with Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft, although no further details of the buyer were disclosed.
The lack of additional information may prompt speculation about the customer. JSM missiles have previously been purchased by Norway, Japan, Australia, the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany.
The input notes that, given the number of F-35 user countries and earlier procurement procedures, Singapore cannot be ruled out as the buyer. Singapore has so far ordered eight F-35A and twelve F-35B aircraft.
The JSM was designed to fit inside the internal weapons bays of the F-35. According to the supplied input, it is currently the only missile of its class that meets this condition.
This design feature helps explain why further F-35A Lightning II users are placing orders for the weapon. Beyond the six countries referred to in the input, Belgium and Poland have also formally expressed interest in acquiring the missile.
Certification of the weapon is planned under the F-35 Block 4 configuration development programme. This would support integration of the missile into the aircraft’s future operational standard.
The input links Kongsberg’s success with Norway’s participation in the F-35 Lightning II development programme. Norway joined the programme as a Level III partner.
