Kongsberg has placed an order with BAE Systems Australia to acquire an additional 180 Passive Radio Frequency Sensors (PRS) for its Joint Strike Missile (JSM).
This completes the first full rate of production order for 200 PRS sensors and is the result of successful and efficient operations between the two companies over the past five years.
Following initial funding from the Australian Government, Kongsberg and BAE Systems continued to invest in the development, qualification and integration of the Australian sensor.
Kongsberg’s JSM is effective against maritime and land targets and is the only anti-ship cruise missile that can be carried internally within the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
This allows the F-35 to retain its range and stealth capabilities for the RAAF’s F-35 Maritime Strike requirements under Project 3023 Phase 2.
The JSM is from the same family of missiles as the Naval Strike Missile that was competitively selected by the US Navy, and is also a candidate missile for RAN's Sea 1300 program.
“The work that we are doing with BAE Systems Australia on JSM continues to build upon KONGSBERG’s legacy of collaboration with Australian companies on guided weapon production that commenced 25 years ago with the Australian manufacture of Penguin missile components," Kongsberg Defence Australia’s General Manager John Fry said.
“This demonstrates Australia’s ability to develop new, world leading sovereign technologies. The integration of this technology into a guided weapon will provide the Australian Defence Force with a leading edge defence capability," BAE Systems Australia Managing Director Defence Delivery Andrew Gresham said.