A development of the
Naval Strike Missile (NSM), the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) will feature an option for ground strike and a two-way communications line, so that the missile can communicate with the central control room or other missiles in the air. This missile will be integrated with the
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Studies have shown that the F-35 would be able to carry two of these in its internal bays, while four additional missiles could be carried externally. Lockheed Martin and Kongsberg signed a joint-marketing agreement for this air-launched version of the NSM, as well as an agreement committing both parties to integrating the JSM on the F-35 platform. The project is funded by Norway and Australia. Kongsberg signed a contract for the first phase of development of the JSM in April, 2009, which is scheduled for completion within 18 months. The JSM will have multicore computers running the
Integrity real-time operating system from
Green Hills Software. Compared with the Naval Strike Missile, the Joint Strike Missile features: • A larger warhead • Form factor altered to allow the missile to fit into the F-35's internal bays • The ability to attack sea and land targets • Compatibility with various aircraft as launch platforms • Improved range: estimates include In November 2015, an
F-16 Fighting Falcon successfully completed live-fire testing of the JSM at the
Utah Test and Training Range. The integration of the JSM with the F-35, and testing in the United States is facilitated by Lone Star Analysis, under long term contract with the Norwegian Ministry of Defense. On 22 August 2024, Australia's Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, the Hon. Pat Conroy MP, announced a AU$850 million partnership agreement had been signed with Kongsberg's local subsidiary — Kongsberg Defence Australia — for the manufacture and servicing of the JSM (and NSM) for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at a new purpose built factory. The factory is to be constructed at RAAF Base Williamtown near the city of Newcastle in New South Wales. Manufacturing of missiles is expected to commence from 2027.
Other variants Proposed variants JSM-SL: After the development of a torpedo tube launched version of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM-SL) was canceled in 2021, The Netherlands and Spain started considering a joint procurement of a torpedo tube launched version of the JSM instead. The project was disclosed to the Dutch parliament in 2025.
Canceled variants VL-JSM: Kongsberg were studying methods to deploy the JSM from Norway's submarines, and found shaping the missile to fit into the F-35's confined bomb-bay also enabled it to fit in the
Mark 41 Vertical Launching System. A VL-JSM could also compete with the Lockheed LRASM for the U.S. Navy's OASuW Increment 2 for a ship-launched anti-ship missile. On 15 July 2014, Kongsberg and
Raytheon announced that they had formed a teaming agreement to offer the JSM to the
United States Navy for their Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) requirement; a teaming agreement is an interim agreement between partners which commits them to their roles during the development and marketing stage of a project. It would generally be transformed into a formal
sub-contracting agreement once an order for delivery has been placed. Raytheon would produce JSMs for the American market. Ultimately the program, then known as
Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive Anti-Surface, was cancelled during 2024. == Production ==