Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has secured an 800-million Canadian dollar (US$564 million) contract from Canada to deliver Joint Strike Missiles (JSMs) for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s future F-35A fighter fleet.
The Norwegian defence company announced the contract on June 30, with Prime Minister Mark Carney formally unveiling the acquisition during the 2026 NATO Summit held in Ankara, Turkey.
The missile purchase was announced alongside several other defence modernization measures, including plans to strengthen Arctic satellite communications and introduce a new procurement programme for Light Utility Vehicles.
The agreement makes Canada the sixth nation to procure the JSM, following Norway, Japan, Australia, the United States, and Germany.
The acquisition supports Canada’s broader F-35 modernization programme under a 19-billion Canadian dollar (US$13 billion) agreement signed in 2023 for 88 F-35A aircraft. Deliveries commenced in 2026, with full operational capability expected by 2034.
Joint Strike Missile Overview
The Joint Strike Missile, developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, is a precision-guided, long-range cruise missile designed for air-launched attacks against both naval vessels and land-based targets.
Based on the proven Naval Strike Missile (NSM), the JSM has been optimized for integration with fifth-generation fighter aircraft, particularly the F-35 Lightning II.
The missile measures 4 meters (13 feet) in length and is specifically designed to fit within the F-35’s internal weapons bay, preserving the aircraft’s stealth characteristics during missions.
Weighing approximately 416 kilograms (917 pounds) and equipped with a 118-kilogram (260-pound) warhead, the JSM can strike targets at ranges of up to 350 kilometers (217 miles) while maintaining high subsonic flight speeds.
Its navigation and targeting package integrates an inertial navigation system, terrain-reference navigation, an imaging infrared seeker, and a two-way data link, enabling highly accurate engagements and real-time mission flexibility against sophisticated targets.
