Australia signs deal with Kongsberg to support Joint Strike Missile development

[Ethan]

Australia's Department of Defence (DoD) has signed a contract with Norwegian company Kongsberg to integrate technologies developed by BAE Systems Australia into the Joint Strike Missile (JSM).

The contract, worth NOK150 million (USD17.4 million), enables Kongsberg to continue the integration and qualification of BAE Systems Australia's passive radio frequency (RF) seeker sensor into the missile, which is being developed by the Norwegian company for installation onto the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Kongsberg said the seeker sensor will enable the JSM to locate targets on the basis of their electronic signature, further strengthening the capabilities of the missile.

Outlining its work under the contract, BAE Systems Australia said that it would provide an electronic support measure (ESM) receiver for incorporation on the JSM "which will feature an additional land attack and littoral attack capability as well as a two-way communications line for target adjustment and inflight termination".

BAE Systems Australia added that since collaboration on the programme began it has delivered a pre-production passive RF sensor for the JSM, which was used to perform checks, system integration, and support flight-testing in a development-standard missile.

It said this technology was developed in support of Australia's Priority Industry Capabilities (PICs) or technologies regarded by the government as providing strategic advantage by being resident in Australia. As part of the PIC programme BAE Systems Australia received funding from the government to support the development of the seeker technology in 2013.
http://www.janes.com/article/69504/...g-to-support-joint-strike-missile-development