Germany Purchases Norwegian JSM Missiles to Increase the Long-Range Strike Capabilities of F-35 Fighter Jets
On June 25, 2025, the Norwegian government announced that Germany and Norway had inked a significant defense contract for the purchase of Joint Strike Missiles (JSMs) from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. The agreement, which is estimated to be worth NOK 6.5 billion, or about €565 million, was formally signed by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik during the NATO meeting in The Hague. This high-profile agreement gives Germany a crucial precision-strike capability for its impending fleet of German Air Force F-35A multirole stealth fighter planes and represents a major turning point in bilateral defense cooperation.
The decision comes after German officials confirmed their intention to purchase the JSM (Joint Strike Missile) through a government-to-government arrangement on June 5, 2025. The deal was anticipated to be ratified in the first part of the year following political review in the Bundestag. With its German equivalent BAAINBw serving as a co-signatory, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency will buy the missiles from Kongsberg on behalf of Germany as part of the agreement. The current bilateral frameworks utilized for earlier defense purchases, such as the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and the soon-to-be Super Sonic Strike Missile (3SM), serve as the foundation for this arrangement.
In collaboration with Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Kongsberg created the fifth-generation air-launched cruise missile known as the JSM. It is especially made to integrate with the F-35's internal weapons compartment while maintaining the low-observable profile of the aircraft. The JSM offers unparalleled flexibility to engage both land and maritime targets in high-threat situations thanks to its 400-kilogram warhead, operational range of over 500 kilometers, and sophisticated guidance systems like GPS/INS navigation, an infrared imaging seeker, and autonomous target recognition. Its excellent electronic counter-countermeasures and stealthy design further increase its survival.
Fitting the German F-35A with the JSM has substantial tactical and combat benefits. Germany is able to carry out deep precise attacks while reducing exposure to enemy air defenses by allowing the stealth fighter to hit valuable and time-sensitive targets from a distance. In situations when conventional weapons would not reach their targets or put the aircraft in danger, this capacity is essential in both disputed and denied airspace circumstances. By providing realistic precision attack options, the JSM further strengthens the F-35's position as a multi-domain platform that can assist joint force operations, shape the battlespace, and deter aggression.
Germany's larger plan to update its military and improve NATO interoperability is directly aided by this procurement. The requirement to continue taking part in NATO's nuclear sharing role was the fundamental reason for Berlin's 2022 commitment to buy 35 Lockheed Martin F-35A aircraft to replace its outdated Tornado fleet. The F-35A is a vital component of Germany's future airpower structure due to its compatibility with the U.S. B61 nuclear bomb, as well as its stealth and multi-role capabilities.
The missile deal is a "partnership among equals," according to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who emphasized it as a pillar of a developing strategic collaboration between Berlin and Oslo. By highlighting the JSM's importance to NATO's force modernization and deterrent posture, Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik reaffirmed this view. The successful history of defense cooperation between their nations was cited by both ministers, including the cooperative development and purchase of modern attack systems and submarines.
In addition to adding a powerful and adaptable weapon to its fleet of F-35 fighter jets, Germany is also supporting a larger European military ecosystem based on scientific innovation, industrial collaboration, and strategic alignment by obtaining the JSM (Joint Strike Missile). The addition of the JSM to the Luftwaffe's arsenal will enhance Germany's capacity for long-range precision strikes and solidify its place in NATO's collective defense framework.
