2026-04-20

The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) marks a historic turning point as the first cruise missile ever purchased by Belgium. Although the Council of Ministers under Minister Theo Francken approved the acquisition as early as July 2025 as part of the Ammunition Readiness Plan 2025-2029, very little publicity has been given to this decision regarding the missile developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in cooperation with Raytheon. This purchase is directly linked to the expansion of the Belgian F-35A fleet to 45 aircraft. The JSM provides the Belgian Air Force with its first true stand-off capability, allowing it to attack land and sea targets from outside enemy airspace with a range exceeding 350 km, reaching over 550 km during a high-high-low flight profile.
The missile is specifically designed to fit internally within the F-35's weapon bay, ensuring the aircraft’s stealth capabilities remain fully intact. Weighing 416 kg and measuring 4 meters in length, the JSM is powered by a small turbofan engine that achieves high subsonic speeds of approximately Mach 0.9. It is extremely difficult to detect as it flies at sea-skimming altitudes or follows the contours of the terrain. Furthermore, the system is network-centric, capable of receiving live data from F-35 sensors and other platforms. In addition to its low radar cross-section, it utilizes high-G end-game maneuvers in its final approach to evade defense systems.
The guidance system is highly sophisticated, combining GPS/INS and terrain following with an imaging infrared seeker featuring autonomous target recognition. Along with passive RF sensors, this allows the missile to identify and strike targets with extreme precision in complex environments, including moving ships or hardened land targets. The 120-125 kg explosive warhead provides a fragmentation effect suitable for both soft and hard targets while minimizing collateral damage.
As a genuine game changer, the JSM finally grants Belgium long-range precision strike power. Integration will take place in phases between 2028 and 2030, running parallel to the F-35 Block 4 upgrades and the delivery of eleven additional aircraft. While the exact number of missiles and the precise cost remain classified for operational reasons, the JSM is a vital component of the broader ammunition plan. By choosing this flexible, stealthy, and multirole Norwegian/European solution, Belgium is aligning itself with the future role of the F-35 in high-intensity conflicts. This fits into a broader strategy of transitioning from a purely defensive air force to a full-fledged multirole force capable of contributing to NATO operations, joining an elite group of JSM operators including Norway, the United States, Japan, Germany, and Australia. In short, the JSM turns the Belgian F-35 into a powerful offensive weapon with a long reach without sacrificing its stealth.

UPDATE: 21 May 2026
Defense News Update: The United States has approved the sale of the AGM-184 Joint Strike Missile (JSM) to Belgium. A major milestone for the modernization of our air force!

Source & photos: Ammunition Readiness Plan 2025, VRT NWS (9 juli 2025), Kongsberg, RNAF, Lockheed Martin, USAF,
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Author: AVIATION DAY