Tokyo has placed a follow-on order with Norwegian firm Kongsberg for Joint Strike Missiles to equip its Lockheed Martin F-35s.
The follow-on contract is valued at NKr450 million ($49 million), according to Kongsberg. It does not disclose the number of weapons involved, or the delivery timeframe.
The company announced Tokyo’s initial commitment to the JSM in March, but did not disclose the value of the contract or the number of weapons involved.
The F-35 can carry two JSMs internally. At the Japan Aerospace show in 2016, the company told FlightGlobal that the weapon can also be adapted to serve aboard the Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol/anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
Tokyo has plans to eventually obtain up to 147 F-35s, which would make it the world’s second largest operator of the type. Of these, it is likely that 107 will be conventional take-off and landing F-35As, while 40 will be short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs.
