Additional Joint Strike Missiles for USAF

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace had been awarded a $70 million firm-fixed-price modification for the Joint Strike Missile by the USAF, according to a statement released by the US Department of Defense, on the 24th of January. 

The initial decision by the US Air Force to procure the Joint Strike Missile for theF-35 A Lightning II was announced on the 3rd of June, 2024. This increase brings the contract’s total value to $208, the earlier contract was valued at $141 million, according to Kongsberg. 

A DoD notice related to the procurement from 2023 indicated that 268 missiles would be bought under this programme with 50 in 2024, followed by 54, 57 and 59 in the three years following. While those numbers are subject to change, they do provide an indication of the total demand for the weapon. 

Production is to be carried out at the Kongsberg factory in Norway, with work expected to be completed by 30th September 2027 for the newly contracted missiles. The previous contract had a scheduled completion date of 31st August 2026. 

The JSM has been contracted by Australia, Japan, Norway, and the US, which indicates that it is gaining traction as a weapon system for the F-35. Australia and Japan both placed orders in 2024 along with the US, adding to Norway’s initial order from 2021. Italy has also indicated the intent to procure the JSM for its F-35s. The Finnish request to buy the F-35 also included integration of the Joint Strike Missile, but no contract is known to have been signed. 

Tech Profile: Joint Strike Missile

The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is an air-launched missile designed for anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and land strikes. It has a high subsonic flight speed and a range greater than 275 km or 150 nm depending on the flight profile. A high subsonic speed generally refers to speeds between 270 m/s and 330 m/s. This means the JSM would fly close to the speed of sound (around 340 m/s) but still significantly below it. 

The primary targets are highly defended, high-value targets on sea, coastal waters, or land, Kongsberg states, adding that the missile has an off-board, on-board and in-flight mission planning capability and is able to engage targets based on pre-set rules of engagement (ROE). Whilst the exact details of the JSM’s off-board system are unknown, Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM), which the JSM is based on, similarly uses an off-board system which allows for route generation through waypoints, terrain correlation for overland flight and target recognition criteria. The operator can override the pre-planned flight path if required. 

Calibre Comment

The ability of the F-35 to evade and penetrate adversary air defences is seen as key to western militaries as they prepare to face Russian and Chinese air defence networks. However, delivering effects is also a challenge and ideally done with long-range systems that will not require the aircraft to come within striking range of enemy systems. The JSM’s range will help contribute to survivability of USAF strike packages. 

By Austin Haywood and Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 31st January 2025.