OSLO, Norway — May 18, 2026 : Germany has signed a follow-on contract with Norwegian defense manufacturer Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for additional Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) intended for the German Air Force’s future fleet of F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft. The agreement, finalized in May 2026, is valued at approximately NOK 3.5 billion and represents a further expansion of Germany’s precision-strike capabilities under its ongoing air force modernization program.
The new procurement follows Germany’s initial JSM contract signed on June 30, 2025, which was valued at roughly NOK 6.5 billion. With the original order, Germany became the fifth nation to procure the missile system after Norway, Japan, Australia, and the United States.
The agreement is structured as a government-to-government sale between Germany and Norway, with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) acting as the contracting authority on behalf of Berlin. The additional order is intended to increase missile stockpiles and readiness levels ahead of the introduction of Germany’s future F-35 fleet into operational service.
F-35 Modernization Program
Germany’s acquisition of the Joint Strike Missile is directly connected to its purchase of 35 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. The aircraft are expected to gradually replace part of the German Air Force’s aging Panavia Tornado IDS strike fleet, including aircraft assigned to NATO nuclear-sharing missions.
Deliveries of the first German F-35A aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2026. Initial pilot training and operational preparation will take place at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, before the aircraft are transferred to their permanent operating location at Büchel Air Base in Germany in 2027.
Øyvind Kolset, Executive Vice President of Kongsberg and head of the company’s Missiles and Aerostructures division, stated that the additional contract demonstrates the importance of the JSM for F-35 operations and supports Germany’s efforts to build up operational missile readiness for the future fleet.
Joint Strike Missile Capability
The Joint Strike Missile was jointly developed by Kongsberg and Raytheon Missiles & Defense as an advanced air-launched precision strike weapon derived from the Naval Strike Missile (NSM).
The missile is currently the only weapon in its category specifically designed for internal carriage inside the weapons bays of the F-35A and F-35C variants, allowing the aircraft to retain its low-observable stealth characteristics during strike missions.
Designed for both anti-ship and land-attack operations, the missile incorporates advanced navigation systems, low-altitude terrain-following flight profiles, and automatic target recognition technology. The JSM has a length of approximately 4 meters and a stowed width of 480 mm, dimensions specifically engineered to meet the internal carriage requirements of the F-35 platform.
Certification of the missile for operational use is planned alongside the rollout of the F-35 Block 4 software standard, which is expected to introduce expanded weapons integration and enhanced combat capabilities for the aircraft.
Expanding Germany-Norway Defense Cooperation
Officials from both countries described the agreement as part of a broader expansion of bilateral defense cooperation between Berlin and Oslo.
Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik stated that the missile agreements reflect the objectives of the Hansa Agreement signed earlier in 2026, which was established to strengthen operational defense cooperation between the two NATO members.
According to Sandvik, the agreements demonstrate how the strategic partnership is being translated into practical military capabilities that support both national defense requirements and NATO collective security objectives.
Kongsberg President and Chief Executive Officer Eirik Lie said the company is engaged in several additional projects with German industry partners beyond the JSM program. These include combat systems for the Type 212CD submarine program, remote weapon stations, and development of a new supersonic strike missile in cooperation with Diehl Defence and MBDA.
The company is also working with European defense technology firm Helsing on projects related to advanced space and defense technologies as part of wider European industrial cooperation efforts.
Procurement Overview
| Contract Phase | Date Signed | Estimated Value | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial JSM Order | June 30, 2025 | NOK 6.5 Billion | Germany became the fifth JSM operator |
| Follow-On JSM Order | May 2026 | NOK 3.5 Billion | Expands missile inventory for F-35 readiness |
The latest procurement further strengthens Germany’s long-range strike capabilities as the Luftwaffe prepares for the operational introduction of the F-35A and continues broader modernization efforts within NATO’s integrated defense framework.
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