RAAF to acquire JSM to arm its F-35A Lightning IIs

The RAAF will acquire the Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile (JSM) to arm its F-35A Lightning IIs from 2025 under a contract worth $142 million.

The JSM is designed to fit into the aircraft’s internal weapons bay, preserving its stealth characteristics. With a range of more than 275 kilometres, the JSM’s low-altitude sea-skimming flight profile helps it delay detection and engagement by a target’s defence system.

The accelerated acquisition was announced, to nobody’s surprise, by the Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, alongside Norway’s Minister of Defence, Bjørn Arild Gram, at the opening of Kongsberg Defence Australia’s new $25 million manufacturing facility in Mawson Lakes, South Australia.

This announcement follows the Government’s recent commitment to partner with Kongsberg Defence Australia for the construction of a new facility at Newcastle Airport capable of manufacturing and maintaining both the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and JSM.

“The Albanese Government’s investment in long-range strike capabilities for the Australian Defence Force is central to our ability to protect Australia’s security and advance our national interests,” said Marles.

“This announcement builds on our commitment to enhance the ADF’s ability to precisely strike targets at a longer range, while also manufacturing more in Australia.

Kongsberg’s new South Australian facility will assemble launchers for the NSM, which has already been ordered for the RAN and test-fired by HMAS Sydney. The launchers will use mostly Australian‑manufactured components.

These activities are part of Defence’s investment of up to $21 billion in the GWEO Enterprise over the next decade.

Defence continues to deliver on the rapid establishment of domestic missile manufacturing and accelerate the acquisition of long-range strike capability, advancing the country’s national security through a future made in Australia, it says.