At the time of the option’s activation, the Department of Defense approved a funding allocation of USD 105 million. This amount combines part of the production option funds with the second tranche of the budget allocated for missile procurement under the initial agreement signed in May 2024, which initially released $69 million. Deliveries are scheduled to continue through September 2027.
The majority of the production work will be undertaken at Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace’s main facility in Norway. The JSM, developed by Kongsberg, is the only anti-ship missile designed to fit within the internal weapons bays of the F-35A and F-35C Lightning II aircraft. Certification of the missile alongside the Block 4 software standard for the F-35 is anticipated as part of future operational upgrades.
Kongsberg’s success with the JSM reflects Norway’s involvement in the development of the F-35 Lightning II programme, where it participates as a Tier III partner. In addition to the United States and Norway, other nations operating the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, such as Japan and Finland, have procured the JSM, with Japan receiving its first batch in mid-2021. Poland has also expressed interest in acquiring the missile system.
Beyond its anti-ship capabilities, the JSM is capable of targeting land-based assets, a versatility similar to its predecessor, the Naval Strike Missile (NSM).
