Norway unveils its first new super missile, JSM, and celebrates delivery of all 52 F-35 fighter jets

'The fighter jets were delivered on schedule, and the F-35 is performing beyond expectations. This is the result of formidable efforts across large parts of the defence sector over many years. The F-35 is a capability that strengthens the entire Armed Forces', the Minister of Defence added.

The F-35 represents a generational leap in air power, and all 52 aircraft will receive continuous upgrades throughout their service life. In addition to already estabished maintenance capacity, Construction is underway on a new F-35 maintenance facility at Rygge Air Base, aimed at strengthening national readiness and building greater maintenance expertise. The F-35 fleet has already participated in numerous exercises and operations, both at home and abroad, including three deployments to Iceland.

'The recent mission in Poland proved the Air Wing's ability to carry out real-world operations abroad on behalf of NATO. You have contributed to Norwegian and European security', said Sandvik, visiting the air station where a medal ceremony was held later that day to honour the F-35's deployment to Poland.

Norway's First Super Missile - the Joint Strike Missile (JSM)

The JSM has been developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) under contract from the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, in close collaboration with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI).

'JSM is a prime example of what we can achieve when the Norwegian defence sector and industry work together. This missile gives Norway the capability to locate and defeat heavily defended targets at significant distances, with high precision and low risk of detection. It is the first weapon that allows smaller nations like Norway to credibly threaten heavily protected targets on land and at sea. The missile delivered today marks a truly historic milestone in both Norwegian and international defence history', said the Minister of Defence.

The JSM is the only missile in its class that can be carried internally in the F-35's weapons bay, preserving the aircraft's operational range and low observability. It is equipped with advanced sensors and two-way communication, enabling it to navigate modern air defences and strike targets even in highly challenging conditions. The missile is designed for both land and maritime strike missions.

In addition to Norway, Australia, Japan, and the United States have already decided to procure the JSM. The missile significantly enhances the F-35's combat capability against maritime threats and strategic land targets.

'Now the next chapter begins: integrating the JSM with the F-35. The combination of the F-35 and advanced weaponry represents an entirely new level of challenge for anyone who might consider attacking Norway or its allies. It marks a substantial strengthening of the Armed Forces' operational capability', concluded Sandvik.