US OKs $236M Sale of Joint Strike Missiles for Belgium’s F-35 Fleet

Belgium is set to enhance the lethality of its F-35 fighter jets, following the US State Department’s approval of a potential sale of AGM-184 Joint Strike Missiles (JSMs).

The package, valued at up to $236 million, covers the missiles, spare parts, consumables and accessories, repair and return support, training devices, testing and multi-purpose missile equipment, and other related support elements.

Norway-based Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and US defense company RTX were designated as the principal contractors for the foreign military sale.

According to the State Department, the proposed sale intends to assist Belgium in “completing its core tasks of contributing to the collective defense of NATO.”

Kongsberg developed the JSM, essentially the air‑launched variant of the Naval Strike Missile family, optimized for integration on the F‑35A Joint Strike Fighter and other strike platforms.

They are designed as fifth‑generation, stealthy cruise missiles for anti‑ship and deep‑strike land‑attack operations in highly contested environments.

Measuring 4 meters (13 foot) long and weighing 416 kilograms (917 pounds), the JSM can fly at high subsonic speeds at ranges exceeding 189 nautical miles (217 miles/350 kilometers).

Several countries have selected the JSM for their F-35 fleet, including the US, Japan, and Norway.