Asger Risom
Oslo becomes the first to operationalize stealth-compatible Joint Strike Missiles, enhancing strike range and radar evasion capabilities
Norway has become the first country in the world to officially integrate Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) into its fleet of F-35A fighter jets, significantly boosting their strike range and operational flexibility. The milestone was marked at Ørland Air Base, coinciding with the delivery of Norway’s final F-35A from a 52-aircraft order—making it the first nation to receive its full fleet of the fifth-generation fighters, as reported by tech.wp.pl.
A stealth-ready long-range weapon
Developed by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in cooperation with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, the JSM is uniquely designed to fit inside the internal weapons bay of the F-35, preserving its low radar cross-section. This distinguishes it from U.S. counterparts like the JASSM, which must be carried externally.
The missile builds on the proven design of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and is intended for both land and sea targets. Once deployed, its wings and control surfaces unfold for navigation and evasive maneuvers at low altitudes.
Powered by the Williams International F-415 engine, the missile travels at speeds up to Mach 0.9 and has a range between 185 and 550 kilometers depending on launch conditions and flight profile.
Advanced targeting and combat flexibility
The JSM features a programmable warhead with dual operating modes: a fragmentation-explosive setting for soft targets, or a delayed-penetration mode for hardened structures. A key advantage is its autonomous target recognition system, which can abort an attack if the target is identified as friendly. Targets can also be designated in-flight through a data-link connection, allowing real-time re-tasking after launch.
According to Kongsberg’s Øyvind Kolset, “JSM is extremely advanced weaponry and is already drawing significant interest globally. It’s proof of what tight cooperation between Norway’s defense industry and government can achieve.”
Global demand and future production
Countries like Australia, Japan, and the United States have already committed to acquiring the JSM, which can also be integrated on platforms beyond the F-35—including the F/A-18, F-15, and Eurofighter. To meet future demand, Kongsberg is expanding production capacity with new facilities in Norway, Australia, and the U.S., scheduled to come online by 2028.
Brigadier Jarle Nergård of the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency noted that with the F-35 software updates still underway, stockpiling JSMs now will allow for rapid deployment once systems are fully operational: “Once operational, no naval target will be safe where JSM-armed F-35s operate.”