Lockheed Martin and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Kongsberg) of Norway have entered into a Joint Marketing Agreement to market an air-launched version of the Naval Strike Missile. The missile, to be called the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), is designed to be carried internally and launched externally from the F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The JSM will build upon the Naval Strike Missile.

The 1,000-pound, stealthy and highly maneuverable anti-ship missile has the capability to strike sea and land targets with its new titanium warhead and programmable fuze. It employs Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) guidance with a unique imaging infrared seeker, in-flight data link and an automatic target recognizer (ATR). The missile has a maximum range of more than 130 nautical miles.

The agreement will benefit the warfighter by combining the strength and experience of Lockheed Martin and Kongsberg to market a new capability. Kongsberg has strong experience in anti-ship missiles, weapons integration, target recognition software and mission planning systems. Lockheed Martin has strong experience in air-launched missiles, target recognition software, mission planning systems, integration of weapons into Lockheed Martin-produced fixed-wing aircraft and software support for those weapons.

The stealthy F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role 5th Generation fighter designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including the AV-8B Harrier, A-10, F-16, F/A-18 Hornet and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7 and Sea Harrier.

Headquartered in Kongsberg, Norway, Kongsberg employs 3,400 people in more than 25 countries. Kongsberg is among the world leaders in the commercial maritime electronics market. In the defense segment Kongsberg provides anti- ship missiles, command, control and communications systems and remote weapon stations.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin