Defence has signed a $142 million contract with Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace to acquire Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) for the Royal Australian Air Force's F-35A fleet.
Deliveries of the missile will begin in 2025.
The acquisition is separate to an $850 million investment from Defence that will see Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace's Australian subsidiary, Kongsberg Defence Australia, build a factory to produce both the JSM and Naval Strike Missile at Newcastle Airport.
Unlike NSM, JSM can be operated by aircraft including the F-35A. JSM can also be carried inside the F-35A internal weapon bay, unlike other anti-ship missiles such as the AGM-158C LRASM. The ability to operate the missile is included in the F-35's delayed Block 4 upgrade package.
Australia's fleet of F-35As are currently Block 3F aircraft. They are yet to undergo the Block 4 upgrade.
"Today’s announcement demonstrates the strong partnership between Australia, Norway and Kongsberg to expedite and uplift guided weapons capabilities," said the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy.