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Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy have announced that Australia will acquire Joint Strike Missiles under a $142 million contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
The deal between the Commonwealth and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace will deliver the Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) for use by the Australian Defence Force beginning in 2025.
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Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile is the only fifth-generation missile in service that can be fitted to the F-35A aircraft and carried internally, helping the aircraft to maintain its low observable profile and enhancing its lethality.
The accelerated acquisition was announced alongside Norway Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram at the opening of Kongsberg Defence Australia’s new $25 million manufacturing facility in Mawson Lakes, South Australia.
Kongsberg’s new South Australian facility will have the capacity to employ up to 150 workers and will assemble launchers for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) using mostly Australian‑manufactured components, creating 20 new local jobs.
Deputy Prime Minister Marles welcomed this announcement, saying, “This announcement builds on our commitment to enhance the ADF’s ability to precisely strike targets at a longer range, while also manufacturing more in Australia.”
This announcement follows the government’s recent commitment to partner with Kongsberg Defence Australia for the construction of a new $850 million missile manufacturing facility at the Newcastle Airport precinct, which is capable of manufacturing and maintaining the NSM and JSM and is expected to create more than 500 jobs in the construction phase and deliver almost $100 million in economic benefits to the local area.
Minister Conroy expanded on the Deputy Prime Minister’s comments, saying, “Signing this contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to fast-track the acquisition of Joint Strike Missile to 2025 is another example of the Albanese government moving quickly to acquire the capabilities needed to keep Australians safe.”
These activities are part of the Albanese government’s investment in the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, underpinned by a commitment in Defence’s 2024 Integrated Investment Program of $16 to $21 billion over the next decade.
