The aerospace and defense division of Norwegian contractor Kongsberg announced on Tuesday that it is establishing a missile production facility in James City County, Virginia, aimed at enhancing capacity for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Joint Strike Missile (JSM).
Geir Håøy, CEO of Kongsberg, emphasized in a company statement, “The new missile production facilities in the U.S., Australia, and Norway address the strong and long-term demand for our unique technology and the critical need to strengthen collective defense capabilities. Kongsberg has a proud history in the U.S., and we are delighted to continue investing in the country to support American interests while creating jobs locally.”
The new Virginia facility is set to create 180 jobs and represents a $100 million investment over the coming years. Kongsberg also operates a factory in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, which will expand its workforce by hiring an additional 20 employees.
The focus of the Virginia factory will be on manufacturing the Naval Strike Missile, an anti-ship weapon utilized by the U.S. Navy, produced in collaboration with RTX. The NSM features a 500-pound class warhead, advanced seeking capabilities, and a programmable fuse.
For its part, the Joint Strike Missile is a derivative of the NSM and is being integrated for deployment on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, in partnership with Lockheed Martin. The missile has garnered interest from air forces across several nations, including Norway, Japan, Finland, Australia, and the United States.
Rep. Rob Wittman, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, remarked, “Today’s announcement by Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace represents a significant investment in our local community. Kongsberg’s decision to expand their U.S. presence and build a new missile production facility in James City County was motivated by the goal of helping meet increasing global demand for the Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile.”
He further stated, “This new facility will create nearly 200 new jobs locally while investing over $100 million into the economy of the Commonwealth in the coming years.”
