Germany has officially decided to procure the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for its F-35 fighter jets, becoming the fifth country to adopt this advanced strike capability. The agreement with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, reported to be worth approximately NOK 6.5 billion, underscores Berlin’s commitment to enhancing precision strike capabilities.
Bundestag Approval and Strategic Cooperation
The German parliament (Bundestag) approved the procurement on 4 June 2025, paving the way for formal contractual negotiations. According to Kongsberg, Norway’s Defence Material Agency (NDMA) will serve as the contracting authority on behalf of the Norwegian side.
Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, welcomed the development stating,
“We are pleased to welcome Germany as the fifth nation to select the JSM for its F-35 fleet. The JSM’s navigation system, flight profile and automatic target recognition technology make it a great match for the F-35.”
Expanding Global Footprint of JSM
Germany now joins Norway, Japan, Australia, and the United States as operators of the Joint Strike Missile, which is tailored specifically for the F-35 Lightning II. The JSM provides extended range and superior strike accuracy, making it an essential tool for modern multi-role air operations.
As Germany’s F-35 integration progresses, the selection of JSM further aligns its defense modernization with NATO interoperability and shared technological frameworks.
Outlook and Next Steps
While the Germany Joint Strike Missile deal has been approved at the parliamentary level, final contract signing is anticipated by the end of the first half of 2025. Negotiations are actively ongoing.
This agreement marks a significant milestone for Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, reaffirming the company’s role as a key supplier of advanced missile systems for fifth-generation fighter platforms.
