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BAE Systems Australia has received a purchase order from Norway’s Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace for Joint Strike Missile sensors.
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Norwegian defence company Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has placed a purchase order with BAE Systems Australia for an initial batch of passive radio frequency sensors for the Joint Strike Missile (JSM).
The order, which is the first full-rate production order of the sensors, is part of a broader co-operation agreement between Kongsberg and BAE Systems Australia.
Since receiving initial funding from the Australian government in 2013 via the Australian government's Priority Industry Capability Program, Kongsberg and BAE Systems Australia have invested in the qualification and integration of the Australian sensor into the JSM, in a bid to provide additional capability to the fifth-generation, long-range, precision-guided, stand-off missile system.
The purchase order follows a set of flight trials, which according to BAE Systems, demonstrated the “successful integration” of the electronic systems into the missile.
Kongsberg’s JSM is designed for use against maritime and land targets, and is the only anti-ship cruise missile that can be carried internally within the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
“Kongsberg values the close co-operation between Australia and Norway, both through our work with BAE Systems Australia and the respective national science and technology organisations to achieve significant capability enhancements for precision weapons,” Kongsberg Defence Australia’s general manager John Fry said.
“This co-operation further demonstrates Kongsberg’s willingness to work closely with Australian defence industry and provide opportunities within their global supply chain for ongoing export opportunities.”
BAE Systems Australia managing director of defence delivery Andrew Gresham added, “BAE Systems is a specialist developer of advanced miniature digital electronic support measures systems, which provides radio frequency situational awareness that enables rapid decision-making.
“This is a great example of niche technology developed in Australia and which will add to the nation’s defence exports.”
[Related: Defence partners with BAE Systems to enhance radar capability]
