Germany has placed an order for additional JSM cruise missiles valued at NOK 3.5 billion, or approximately €326 million. The missiles are intended to complement the existing Taurus inventory in the role of airborne long-range precision strike weapons, to be used against targets including those in russia.
The contract is based on a government-to-government sale agreement between Norway and Germany, with Norwegian company Kongsberg serving as the executing manufacturer.
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As a reminder, Germany is procuring the JSM specifically to arm its future F-35A fighters, which are currently being manufactured in the United States.
The result will be aircraft capable not only of serving as nuclear delivery platforms, replacing the Panavia Tornado in that role, but also of participating in conventional strike missions.
The choice of the JSM was driven by the fact that it is already integrated on American fifth-generation aircraft, whereas the German Taurus is simply too large to fit inside the F-35's internal weapons bay.
It is also worth noting that older Taurus variants are no longer in production, meaning only the new extended-range version with a 1,000 km range is on the horizon, and it will not enter service before 2029, raising questions about interim alternatives, while the path to Tomahawks is also far from straightforward.
This is already the second JSM contract for the Luftwaffe. The first was placed at the end of June 2025 for NOK 6.5 billion, or approximately €602 million. Combined, the two orders total €928 million, covering the armament of 35 F-35As purchased from the United States.
In terms of performance, the Norwegian cruise missile is assessed as capable of striking targets at ranges of between 185 km and 555 km, carrying a 120 kg warhead. Germany will become the fifth operator of the weapon, joining Japan, Norway, the United States, and Australia. A US-based manufacturing facility has already begun construction to meet growing demand.
The JSM thus proves a sound addition to the German arsenal, providing long-range precision strike capability from a broader range of platforms and a particularly valuable one while Taurus production has yet to begin.
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