Japan has received the first batch of Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) to equip its F-35A Lightning II fighter fleet, marking a major boost to its long-range precision-strike capabilities.
The Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace cruise missiles were handed over during a ceremony in Norway and transported back to Japan aboard a Japan Air Self-Defense Force aircraft.
The quantity of missiles was not disclosed, but the delivery follows a series of procurement contracts signed between Japan and Kongsberg since March 2019. In December 2025, the Norwegian company received its fifth follow-on order for the missile from Japan.
Beyond Japan, the JSM has also been selected by Norway, Australia, Germany, and the US, reflecting its growing adoption among advanced air forces.
“This deployment and exchange symbolize the rapid deepening of defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and Norway, following the visit to Japan in 2025 by the Royal Norwegian Navy frigate Roald Amundsen and the first-ever joint training conducted with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force,” according to a Japanese Ministry of Defence statement.
Missile Meant for F-35
An enlarged, air-launched derivative of the Naval Strike Missile, the JSM was developed from the outset for integration with the F-35A Lightning II and F-35C.
It fits within the F-35’s internal weapons bay and can strike targets at ranges up to 563 kilometers (350 miles) and travel at high subsonic speed.
The 4-meter (13-foot) missile weighs about 407 kilograms (897 pounds) and carries a 118-kilogram (260-pound) warhead.
It uses GPS and inertial navigation for midcourse guidance, with a passive, jam-resistant imaging infrared seeker enabling precise terminal targeting.
The weapon is designed for anti-surface warfare, naval fire support, and long-range strike missions.
