Belgium to arm F-35 fighters with Norwegian Joint Strike Missiles to strike before being seen
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On July 18, 2025, Belgium’s Council of Ministers approved the purchase of Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) as part of the multi-year Ammunition Readiness Plan 2025–2029. This marks the first acquisition of cruise missiles by the Belgian Armed Forces. The decision was presented by Defence Minister Theo Francken and is linked to a wider effort to replenish munitions stockpiles, establish long-term procurement and production structures, and align Belgian military capabilities with NATO standards.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The procurement of JSMs coincides with the expansion of the Belgian F-35A fleet, as the Council of Ministers also confirmed the order for eleven additional units. (Picture source: Raytheon)
The plan specifically seeks to address structural shortages that have limited Belgium’s operational readiness. It is designed to ensure the rapid acquisition of key munitions for recently ordered and partially delivered weapon systems, build a minimal ammunition stock, and allow for stock adjustments based on effective consumption or geopolitical developments. It also enables the Defence Ministry to place procurement orders and form long-term partnerships with Belgian industry for domestic production.
The approved purchase of the JSM is part of a broader shift in Belgian defence policy defined in the Strategic Vision 2025, which updates the 2016 framework. This vision, also adopted by the Council of Ministers, describes a defence buildup through 2034 across five domains: Intelligence-Cyber-Information, Land, Air, Sea, and Operational Command and Support. It aims to rebalance human and material resources, with projected defence spending reaching €139 billion between 2026 and 2034. Additional measures confirmed by the Council include setting the Defence Industry and Research Strategy (DIRS) budget at 3 percent of the defence budget plus €30 million, dedicating one-third of this to NATO-compatible space and cyber projects, reaffirming flexibility in the use of 5 percent of additional defence funds allocated in the Easter Agreement, and targeting 15 days of supply (DOS) for munitions by 2032, subject to pricing and delivery constraints.
The Ammunition Readiness Plan 2025 allocates an initial €2.3 billion to be committed within the year, constituting the largest ammunition investment in Belgian military history. According to Minister Francken, the bulk of the increased budget aims to address critically low stockpiles. The plan prioritises ammunition types with long delivery timelines or limited sources of production, particularly for the land forces, the new MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles, and the F-35A combat aircraft. Specific types include 155 mm artillery shells, mortar ammunition, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, and guided air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions. For naval forces, a range of missiles will be acquired to address threats in the air, on land, on the sea, and underwater. For the air component, the JSM will serve as a stand-off cruise missile capability, enabling strikes against ground targets hundreds of kilometres away while remaining outside contested airspace.
The Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) are produced by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace with participation from Raytheon Missiles & Defense. It is derived from the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and is designed to be launched from platforms including the F-35, F-16, F/A-18E/F, and F-15E. It has a mass of 416 kg, a length of 4 meters, and is equipped with a 120 kg blast-fragmentation warhead. It uses a Williams International F-415 turbofan engine and follows low-altitude terrain-hugging flight paths, depending on its trajectory profile (hi-hi-lo, lo-lo-lo). Maximum range is estimated at over 350 km. Guidance is provided by GPS, inertial navigation, TERCOM, and Autonomous Target Recognition (ATR), and accuracy is reported as having a circular error probable of 1 meter. Its radar cross-section is reduced for survivability, and its targeting is aided by an infrared seeker. Its internal compatibility with the F-35’s weapons bays enables internal carriage of two missiles, with four additional ones mounted externally. The JSM’s two-way communication link allows it to be updated in-flight, including during cooperative targeting operations.
Belgium joins a group of confirmed JSM operators that includes Norway, the United States, Japan, Germany, and Australia. The Royal Norwegian Air Force received its first operational JSMs in April 2025. The U.S. Department of Defense has ordered 268 missiles across fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Germany signed a €478.7 million agreement with Norway in June 2025, with first deliveries expected by the end of 2027. Australia placed a NOK 1 billion order in September 2024, and Japan has made multiple procurement rounds since 2019, including a NOK 1.9 billion order in November 2024. The missile is also under evaluation or consideration by other countries such as Finland and Italy. A submarine-launched variant (JSM-SL) is currently under development in a multinational European program led by Spain, with Dutch participation. The JSM-SL is planned to be compatible with torpedo tubes and expected to reach operational integration on Dutch Orka-class submarines by 2032.
The JSM acquisition supports Belgium’s broader commitment to meet NATO’s evolving spending standards. Belgium is on track to meet the current 2 percent of GDP defence spending requirement by the end of 2025 and plans to maintain this level through 2033 before increasing to 2.5 percent in 2034. At the NATO summit in The Hague, members are expected to adopt a new benchmark of 5 percent of GDP, with 3.5 percent dedicated to military spending and 1.5 percent to defence-related investments. Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot have stated that Belgium will not oppose the new target but will advocate for a flexible implementation timeline and a broad interpretation of eligible expenditures. While internal political parties have expressed disagreement, the federal cabinet has opted not to block the target. A potential revision of NATO’s goals is foreseen in 2029, allowing for reassessment based on the global security environment.
The procurement of JSMs coincides with the expansion of the Belgian F-35A fleet, as the Council of Ministers also confirmed the order for eleven additional aircraft. These will be manufactured in Italy and are expected to contribute to national economic activity. Minister Francken stated that “a very large economic return” is anticipated, according to statements reported by Belga news agency. The JSMs and F-35s are part of a long-term vision to build a modern and more autonomous Belgian military force. The updated defence policy includes investments in air defence systems such as NASAMS and Piorun, short-range mobile systems like Skyranger, and additional procurement for the land and naval forces. Military infrastructure will also be upgraded, including a new medical facility and logistics battalions. Recruitment goals include hiring 4,500 personnel in 2025, with adjustments to age limits and salary competitiveness under review. Structural reforms will return the designation of each component to its original form: Landmacht, Luchtmacht, Marine, Medische Dienst, and the new Cybermacht, replacing the component model in place since 2002.
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On July 18, 2025, Belgium’s Council of Ministers approved the purchase of Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) as part of the multi-year Ammunition Readiness Plan 2025–2029. This marks the first acquisition of cruise missiles by the Belgian Armed Forces. The decision was presented by Defence Minister Theo Francken and is linked to a wider effort to replenish munitions stockpiles, establish long-term procurement and production structures, and align Belgian military capabilities with NATO standards.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The procurement of JSMs coincides with the expansion of the Belgian F-35A fleet, as the Council of Ministers also confirmed the order for eleven additional units. (Picture source: Raytheon)
The plan specifically seeks to address structural shortages that have limited Belgium’s operational readiness. It is designed to ensure the rapid acquisition of key munitions for recently ordered and partially delivered weapon systems, build a minimal ammunition stock, and allow for stock adjustments based on effective consumption or geopolitical developments. It also enables the Defence Ministry to place procurement orders and form long-term partnerships with Belgian industry for domestic production.
The approved purchase of the JSM is part of a broader shift in Belgian defence policy defined in the Strategic Vision 2025, which updates the 2016 framework. This vision, also adopted by the Council of Ministers, describes a defence buildup through 2034 across five domains: Intelligence-Cyber-Information, Land, Air, Sea, and Operational Command and Support. It aims to rebalance human and material resources, with projected defence spending reaching €139 billion between 2026 and 2034. Additional measures confirmed by the Council include setting the Defence Industry and Research Strategy (DIRS) budget at 3 percent of the defence budget plus €30 million, dedicating one-third of this to NATO-compatible space and cyber projects, reaffirming flexibility in the use of 5 percent of additional defence funds allocated in the Easter Agreement, and targeting 15 days of supply (DOS) for munitions by 2032, subject to pricing and delivery constraints.
The Ammunition Readiness Plan 2025 allocates an initial €2.3 billion to be committed within the year, constituting the largest ammunition investment in Belgian military history. According to Minister Francken, the bulk of the increased budget aims to address critically low stockpiles. The plan prioritises ammunition types with long delivery timelines or limited sources of production, particularly for the land forces, the new MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles, and the F-35A combat aircraft. Specific types include 155 mm artillery shells, mortar ammunition, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, and guided air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions. For naval forces, a range of missiles will be acquired to address threats in the air, on land, on the sea, and underwater. For the air component, the JSM will serve as a stand-off cruise missile capability, enabling strikes against ground targets hundreds of kilometres away while remaining outside contested airspace.
The Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) are produced by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace with participation from Raytheon Missiles & Defense. It is derived from the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and is designed to be launched from platforms including the F-35, F-16, F/A-18E/F, and F-15E. It has a mass of 416 kg, a length of 4 meters, and is equipped with a 120 kg blast-fragmentation warhead. It uses a Williams International F-415 turbofan engine and follows low-altitude terrain-hugging flight paths, depending on its trajectory profile (hi-hi-lo, lo-lo-lo). Maximum range is estimated at over 350 km. Guidance is provided by GPS, inertial navigation, TERCOM, and Autonomous Target Recognition (ATR), and accuracy is reported as having a circular error probable of 1 meter. Its radar cross-section is reduced for survivability, and its targeting is aided by an infrared seeker. Its internal compatibility with the F-35’s weapons bays enables internal carriage of two missiles, with four additional ones mounted externally. The JSM’s two-way communication link allows it to be updated in-flight, including during cooperative targeting operations.
Belgium joins a group of confirmed JSM operators that includes Norway, the United States, Japan, Germany, and Australia. The Royal Norwegian Air Force received its first operational JSMs in April 2025. The U.S. Department of Defense has ordered 268 missiles across fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Germany signed a €478.7 million agreement with Norway in June 2025, with first deliveries expected by the end of 2027. Australia placed a NOK 1 billion order in September 2024, and Japan has made multiple procurement rounds since 2019, including a NOK 1.9 billion order in November 2024. The missile is also under evaluation or consideration by other countries such as Finland and Italy. A submarine-launched variant (JSM-SL) is currently under development in a multinational European program led by Spain, with Dutch participation. The JSM-SL is planned to be compatible with torpedo tubes and expected to reach operational integration on Dutch Orka-class submarines by 2032.
The JSM acquisition supports Belgium’s broader commitment to meet NATO’s evolving spending standards. Belgium is on track to meet the current 2 percent of GDP defence spending requirement by the end of 2025 and plans to maintain this level through 2033 before increasing to 2.5 percent in 2034. At the NATO summit in The Hague, members are expected to adopt a new benchmark of 5 percent of GDP, with 3.5 percent dedicated to military spending and 1.5 percent to defence-related investments. Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot have stated that Belgium will not oppose the new target but will advocate for a flexible implementation timeline and a broad interpretation of eligible expenditures. While internal political parties have expressed disagreement, the federal cabinet has opted not to block the target. A potential revision of NATO’s goals is foreseen in 2029, allowing for reassessment based on the global security environment.
The procurement of JSMs coincides with the expansion of the Belgian F-35A fleet, as the Council of Ministers also confirmed the order for eleven additional aircraft. These will be manufactured in Italy and are expected to contribute to national economic activity. Minister Francken stated that “a very large economic return” is anticipated, according to statements reported by Belga news agency. The JSMs and F-35s are part of a long-term vision to build a modern and more autonomous Belgian military force. The updated defence policy includes investments in air defence systems such as NASAMS and Piorun, short-range mobile systems like Skyranger, and additional procurement for the land and naval forces. Military infrastructure will also be upgraded, including a new medical facility and logistics battalions. Recruitment goals include hiring 4,500 personnel in 2025, with adjustments to age limits and salary competitiveness under review. Structural reforms will return the designation of each component to its original form: Landmacht, Luchtmacht, Marine, Medische Dienst, and the new Cybermacht, replacing the component model in place since 2002.
