Canada Buys Joint Strike Missiles for F-35 Fleet, Signaling Continued Commitment to Stealth Fighter

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on July 9, 2026, at the NATO summit in Ankara that Canada will spend approximately C$800 million ($564 million USD) to purchase Joint Strike Missiles (JSMs) from Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for its planned F-35A Lightning II fleet. This makes Canada the sixth country to select the long-range precision-guided missile, after Norway, Japan, Australia, the United States, and Germany. The JSM is designed to fit inside the F-35's internal weapons bays, allowing the fighter to maintain its stealth profile while striking ships and land targets from over 350 kilometers away. The acquisition expands the Royal Canadian Air Force's F-35 beyond air defense. Canada remains contractually committed to at least its first 16 F-35s but has not confirmed whether it will complete the original purchase of 88 fighters signed in 2023, as it continues to consider a mixed fleet including Swedish Gripens. Kongsberg also announced investments in Canada under the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy.