Australia Orders JASSM-ER, Naval Strike Missiles for $3.5B

The Australian government has approved the acquisition of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER) for the Royal Australian Air Force and Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) for the Royal Australian Navy for $3.5 billion.

The contract also covers procurement of maritime mines to secure Australia’s ports and maritime approaches.

The JASSM-ER is expected to enable the FA-18F Super Hornet, and in future the F-35A Lightning II to engage targets at a range of 900km. The Kongsberg NSM which is poised to replace the Harpoon anti-ship missile in the ANZAC-class frigates and Hobart-class destroyers is also expected to provide a significant enhancement to Australia’s maritime strike capability – more than doubling the current maritime strike range of our frigates and destroyers.

The process to equip ANZAC Class frigates and Hobart Class destroyers NSM capability is expected to commence in 2024.