Canada has finalized a CAD 800 million ($564 million) contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to procure Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) for its future F-35A Lightning II fleet, becoming the sixth operator of the system [1][2]. The deal, formally announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney at the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara on 8 July 2026, addresses the critical need for fifth-generation stealth fighters to carry long-range stand-off weapons internally [1][5]. Unlike competitors such as Taurus, the JSM is the only air-launched weapon in its class designed to fit within the F-35’s internal weapons bay, preserving the aircraft’s low-observable signature while enabling precision strikes against land and maritime targets up to 350 km [1][2]. Kongsberg originally disclosed the NOK 4.7 billion agreement on 30 June without naming the buyer, now confirmed as Ottawa to enhance operational range against threats like Russia [2][4].