Australia and Norway have entered an agreement to collaborate on the developmental Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for the Lockheed Martin F-35.
The deal will see BAE Systems Australia working with the Norwegian firm that developed JSM – Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace – Australia’s Department of Defence confirms.
Capable of engaging on land and at sea, the weapon and can fit within the F-35’s weapon bays, or be carried externally.
“The collaboration demonstrates one of the key benefits of being a partner in the global F-35 programme, by providing an opportunity to work internationally on a weapons capability that is strategically important to both nations,” the DoD says.
Australia and Norway have been in discussions for several years on the JSM. Oslo expects the weapon to reach operational readiness “in the early 2020s”.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
