Japan Receives First Norwegian-Made Joint Strike Missiles for F-35A Fighters.

Japan has taken delivery of its first Joint Strike Missile cruise missiles from Norway for integration on its F-35A fighter aircraft, marking a new phase in Tokyo’s long-range strike capability. The acquisition strengthens Japan’s emerging counterstrike posture as regional security pressures increase in the Indo-Pacific.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force received its first batch of Joint Strike Missile cruise missiles in March 2026, collecting the weapons directly from Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace in Norway using a JASDF transport aircraft. The missiles are intended for integration with Japan’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters and will provide the aircraft with a stealthy, long-range precision strike capability against land and maritime targets. The transfer also marked the first logistical mission of its kind conducted by a Japanese military aircraft to Norway, highlighting growing defense cooperation between Tokyo and Oslo while reinforcing Japan’s evolving counterstrike doctrine in response to regional security challenges.
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The Joint Strike Missile derives from the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) anti-ship weapon but was redesigned for internal carriage inside the weapons bay of the F-35 stealth fighter (Picture source: Japan MoD)

The transfer took place within the framework of a series of procurement contracts signed between Japan and the Norwegian manufacturer over the past several years. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace announced in November 2024 that Tokyo had placed an additional order for JSM missiles valued at approximately $172.7 million, representing the fifth procurement since Japan first selected the weapon in 2018. The company did not disclose the number of missiles included in that agreement nor the exact delivery schedule. A further contract confirmed in December 2025 extended earlier purchases and reinforced Japan’s position among the leading operators of the missile within the global F-35 ecosystem.

The arrival of the JSM also coincides with a broader shift in Japan’s defense policy. According to reporting published on 14 March 2026 by Kyodo News, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has begun importing U.S.-manufactured Tomahawk cruise missiles to equip Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Aegis destroyers. The government is simultaneously deploying domestically developed long-range systems, including upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles and new high-speed gliding munitions intended for island defense. Together, these capabilities reflect Tokyo’s effort to operationalize the “counterstrike capability” authorized in the country’s 2022 National Security Strategy revisions, which ended decades of strict adherence to the principle of exclusive self-defense.

Developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, the Joint Strike Missile derives from the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) anti-ship weapon but was redesigned for internal carriage inside the weapons bay of the F-35 stealth fighter. The missile measures approximately four meters in length and weighs about 416 kilograms, allowing it to be carried without compromising the aircraft’s low observable profile. Powered by a turbojet engine, the weapon is believed to reach ranges exceeding 500 kilometers depending on flight profile and mission parameters. Guidance combines an inertial navigation system with GPS updates and an imaging infrared seeker for terminal targeting, enabling the missile to identify and discriminate targets in complex environments.

The missile also incorporates a sophisticated mission-planning architecture designed to exploit the sensor and data fusion capabilities of the F-35. Routes, attack angles, and engagement rules can be uploaded before takeoff, but the system allows in-flight adjustments through the aircraft’s avionics and secure data links. Terrain-following flight profiles and autonomous target recognition enable the missile to approach defended areas at low altitude while minimizing exposure to radar detection. This configuration supports both maritime strike and land-attack missions against fixed infrastructure or relocatable targets.

Integration with the F-35A Lightning II provides the Japan Air Self-Defense Force with a discreet long-range strike option that complements other stand-off weapons. The F-35A’s AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array radar and distributed aperture system offer wide-area sensor coverage, allowing pilots to detect and classify targets at long distances while remaining outside hostile air-defense envelopes. When carrying the JSM internally, the aircraft retains its stealth characteristics and can penetrate contested airspace to launch precision strikes against naval vessels, coastal installations, or command facilities. This combination of stealth platform and stand-off cruise missile extends Japan’s reach across the maritime approaches surrounding the archipelago and increases flexibility in deterrence scenarios.

Japan’s adoption of the JSM must also be understood within the evolving strategic environment of the Indo-Pacific. Rising tensions in the East China Sea, repeated missile tests by North Korea, and the rapid modernization of China’s military forces have all contributed to Tokyo’s reassessment of its defense posture. Long-range precision strike systems provide the ability to hold adversary assets at risk beyond the immediate vicinity of Japanese territory, creating a layered deterrence architecture alongside ballistic-missile defense and conventional air power. At the same time, closer industrial and operational cooperation with Norway reflects a broader pattern of security partnerships between European and Indo-Pacific democracies, suggesting that defense-industrial networks are increasingly linking the two regions as they respond to shared security concerns.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.