Norwegian defense giant Kongsberg has announced plans to establish a new missile production facility in James City County, Virginia, marking a significant expansion of its U.S. operations. This initiative comes amid rising global demand for Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM), driven by escalating conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The $100 million investment aims to strengthen Kongsberg’s capacity to meet the U.S. Department of Defense’s requirements and bolster collective defense capabilities.
The Virginia facility will focus on assembling and upgrading the NSM, an advanced anti-ship missile, and the JSM, which is designed for use on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The site is expected to create 180 new jobs in the region. Additionally, Kongsberg plans to expand its existing factory in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, adding 20 new positions.
This expansion reflects Kongsberg’s broader global strategy, which includes setting up missile factories in Australia and Norway to accommodate increased demand. The U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps are key customers for Kongsberg’s missile systems, and the company’s growing U.S. presence is seen as a response to potential multi-year procurement contracts from the Pentagon
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