Kongsberg Defence Systems has received a contract from the Australian Department of Defence to install its RF-seeker sensors on joint strike missiles (JSM) that will be carried on-board F-35 fighter aircraft.
Built by BAE Systems Australia, the RF-seeker sensor will allow the long-range precision strike missile to locate targets by their electronic signatures.
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The potential upgrade will further strengthen the capabilities of JSM for the most challenging scenarios in a modern battlefield, Kongsberg stated.
Kongsberg Defence Systems President Eirik Lie said: “We are very pleased that Australia joins the development of JSM by funding the integration of the RF seeker and that we together can increase the JSM capabilities.”
The contract was awarded as part of an agreement signed between the Norwegian and Australian Governments in 2015 to cooperate on JSM development.
As well as BAE, Kongsberg can also partner with other Australian defence industry partners, such as Qinetiq Australia, to develop new technology under the previously signed agreement.
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By GlobalDataThe JSM, which will be integrated for internal carriage on the F-35, is difficult to detect and stop even for the most advanced countermeasures and defence systems, Kongsberg stated.
The missile uses a combination of advanced materials and can fly low, while following the terrain.
It is said to be the only long-range sea and land-target missile that can be carried internally in the F-35 and will allow the aircraft to fight well-defended targets across long distances.
Image: The contract was awarded as part of an agreement signed between the Norwegian and Australian Governments in 2015 to cooperate on JSM development. Photo: courtesy of Kongsberg Gruppen.
