OSLO- Norway plays a central role in a new US Air Force weapons procurement as production work for a key F-35 missile advances overseas. On December 12, 2025, the service awarded Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace a $240.9 million firm-fixed-price contract to produce Joint Strike Missile Lot Two for the F-35A fleet.

The contract decision, managed by U.S. defense authorities in Washington, reflects a multi-year plan to expand long-range strike options while preserving the stealth profile of the F-35 fighter jet.

US Air Force Buys $240 Million Missiles

The Lot Two award covers the production of all-up-round Joint Strike Missiles, along with containers, test hardware, and support equipment.

This structure signals a full production batch rather than a limited purchase, aligning missile output with the logistics and testing systems needed for operational use.

Work under the contract will take place in Norway and is scheduled to continue through November 30, 2028. At the time of the award, the U.S. Air Force obligated approximately $138 million from fiscal 2024 funds and nearly $103 million from fiscal 2025 funding.

This procurement approach reflects standard practice for advanced precision weapons entering wider service. By acquiring infrastructure and support elements alongside the missiles, the Air Force aims to reduce delays during acceptance and early deployment phases.

Missile Capabilities

The Joint Strike Missile is an air-launched, long-range precision weapon derived from Norway’s Naval Strike Missile and adapted for internal carriage on the F-35.

Internal carriage allows the aircraft to retain its low-observable configuration while carrying a stand-off strike capability.

The missile supports engagements against both maritime and land targets and features an imaging infrared seeker for terminal guidance.

Its guidance suite combines inertial navigation, GPS, terrain-referenced navigation, and terrain-following flight profiles.

Weighing about 416 kilograms, the missile carries a 120-kilogram blast-fragmentation warhead and uses a Williams International F-415 turbofan engine. Reported range varies by profile, reaching up to roughly 555 kilometers in high-altitude flight scenarios.

Procurement Timeline

Fiscal planning associated with Lot Two outlines a phased procurement strategy across two budget years. Fiscal 2024 funding supports up to 48 missiles and related equipment, while fiscal 2025 funding covers up to 50 additional missiles.

Unit costs are projected at just over $3.3 million per missile, with total weapon system costs exceeding $326 million across both fiscal years.

Quantities may adjust under a buy-to-budget approach as final pricing and options are negotiated.

Operational test and evaluation for the missile on the F-35A is expected to begin in May 2026, following the completion of developmental testing in late 2025. Initial deliveries are planned from mid-2026 through 2027 as production stabilizes.

Bottom Line

The $240.9 million Joint Strike Missile Lot Two contract establishes a clear production and integration pathway for expanding the U.S. Air Force’s F-35A strike capabilities.

By pairing missile procurement with supporting infrastructure, the program aims to accelerate operational readiness and sustain long-range precision strike capacity into the latter part of the decade. (Aviation A2Z)

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