Boeing Wins $75M Contract for Jet-Powered JDAM Long-Range Bomb
The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $75 million initial production contract for the GBU-75, a jet-powered JDAM variant with a range over 300 nautical miles. Boeing invested nearly $100 million of its own funds. The first units go to the U.S. Navy, which tested the weapon in April 2026 from Super Hornets over the Point Mugu Sea Range, achieving precision strikes. The kit can be used on any JDAM-capable aircraft without modification and also supports a naval mining variant.
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Boeing awarded $75M contract for long-range powered JDAM production
Boeing has received a $75 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for initial production of the GBU-75, a powered, long-range version of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) capable of traveling over 300 nautical miles. The weapon adds a wing kit and compact turbojet engine to the existing JDAM tail kit, carrying a 500-pound payload for precision land strike, naval strike, and maritime aerial mining. Boeing invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the program. The system recently completed its first flight test off California. The GBU-75 leverages existing JDAM infrastructure for high-volume production and integration with any aircraft already cleared for conventional JDAMs. The article notes that comparable cruise missiles cost over $1 million each and Western stockpiles have been depleted in recent operations, while Russia has employed similar UMPK glide bomb kits extensively in Ukraine.
Boeing Awarded $75M Contract for Long-Range Powered JDAM Production
Boeing has received a $75 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for initial production of the GBU-75, a powered, long-range version of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) capable of traveling over 300 nautical miles. The weapon adds a wing kit and compact turbojet engine to the existing JDAM tail kit, carrying a 500-pound payload for precision land strike, naval strike, and maritime aerial mining. Boeing invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the program. The system recently completed its first flight test off California, meeting objectives for powered flight and GPS-guided targeting. The GBU-75 leverages existing JDAM infrastructure for high-volume production and integration with any JDAM-compatible aircraft. Cruise missiles of comparable range typically cost over $1 million each, while the JDAM LR aims to provide a more affordable, mass-producible alternative. The article notes Russia's similar UMPK wing kits used extensively in Ukraine.
Boeing Awarded $75M Contract for Long-Range Powered JDAM Production
Boeing has received a $75 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for initial production of the GBU-75, a powered, long-range version of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) capable of traveling over 300 nautical miles. The weapon adds a wing kit and compact turbojet engine to the existing JDAM tail kit, carrying a 500-pound payload for precision land strike, naval strike, and maritime aerial mining. Boeing invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the program. The system completed its first flight test off California, meeting objectives for powered flight and GPS-guided navigation. The GBU-75 leverages existing JDAM infrastructure for high-volume production and integration with any JDAM-compatible aircraft. Cruise missiles of comparable range typically cost over $1 million each, while the JDAM LR aims to provide a lower-cost, mass-producible alternative. The article notes Russia's similar UMPK kits used extensively in Ukraine.
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Boeing wins first production contract for jet-powered JDAM long-range bomb
Boeing announced on August 6, 2026, that the U.S. Air Force has committed $75 million to an initial production contract for the BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Unit, a wing-and-turbojet engine kit that converts a 500-pound JDAM into the long-range GBU-75. The jet-powered bomb can fly over 300 nautical miles, giving gravity bombs cruise missile-like reach. Boeing invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the program. The first GBU-75s are destined for the U.S. Navy, which successfully tested two rounds in April 2026 from Super Hornets over the Point Mugu Sea Range, covering roughly 200 nautical miles with precision. The weapon can be used for land strikes and, in the QuickStrike Long Range variant, for naval mining with ship-tracking sensors. The contract is an undefinitized action, meaning work began before final price agreement. No quantities, unit costs, or delivery dates were disclosed.
Read sourceBoeing wins first production contract for jet-powered JDAM long-range bomb
Boeing announced on August 6, 2026, that it has received a $75 million initial production contract from the U.S. Air Force for the BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Unit, a wing-and-turbojet engine kit that converts a 500-pound JDAM into the long-range GBU-75. The jet-powered bomb can fly over 300 nautical miles, transforming a gravity bomb into a cruise missile-like weapon. Boeing invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the program. The first GBU-75s are destined for the U.S. Navy, which successfully tested the weapon in April 2026, with Super Hornets releasing two rounds that flew approximately 200 nautical miles and landed within meters of their targets. The kit is designed to reuse existing JDAM production lines and guidance hardware, and any aircraft capable of dropping a conventional JDAM can carry the new variant without modification. The contract is an undefinitized action, meaning Boeing began work before final price agreement.
Read sourceBoeing wins first production contract for jet-powered JDAM long-range bomb
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $75 million initial production contract for the BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Unit, a wing-and-turbojet engine kit that converts a 500-pound JDAM into the long-range GBU-75. The jet-powered bomb can fly over 300 nautical miles, giving gravity bombs cruise missile-like reach. Boeing invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the program. The first units are destined for the U.S. Navy, which successfully tested the weapon in April 2026 off California, with rounds flying roughly 200 nautical miles and landing within meters of targets. The kit uses existing JDAM production lines and guidance hardware, and any jet capable of dropping a conventional JDAM can carry the new variant without modification. The contract is an undefinitized action, meaning Boeing began work before final price agreement.
Read sourceBoeing wins first production contract for jet-powered JDAM long-range bomb
Boeing has secured a $75 million initial production contract from the U.S. Air Force for the BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Unit, a wing-and-turbojet engine kit that converts a 500-pound JDAM into the GBU-75 long-range JDAM (JDAM LR). The weapon can fly over 300 nautical miles, giving gravity bombs cruise missile-like reach. Boeing invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the program. The first GBU-75s are destined for the U.S. Navy, which successfully tested the weapon in April 2026, with Super Hornets launching two rounds that flew 200 nautical miles and hit within meters of targets. The kit uses existing JDAM production lines and guidance hardware, and any jet capable of dropping a conventional JDAM can carry the new variant without modification. The contract is an undefinitized action, meaning Boeing began work before final price agreement. The award also supports a QuickStrike Long Range mining variant with ship-tracking sensors.
Read sourceBoeing wins first production contract for jet-powered JDAM long-range bomb
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $75 million initial production contract for the BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Unit, a wing-and-turbojet engine kit that converts a 500-pound JDAM into the GBU-75 long-range JDAM (JDAM LR). This jet-powered guided bomb can fly over 300 nautical miles, giving gravity bombs cruise missile-like reach. Boeing invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the program. The Kratos-designed TDI-J85 engine enables the extended range, far exceeding previous JDAM variants. The Navy demonstrated the weapon in April 2026, with Super Hornets releasing two rounds over the Point Mugu Sea Range, each covering roughly 200 nautical miles and landing within meters of targets. The first GBU-75s are destined for the Navy. The contract is an undefinitized action, meaning Boeing began work before final price agreement. The weapon can be used on any jet capable of dropping conventional JDAMs without modification.
Read sourceBoeing wins first production contract for jet-powered JDAM long-range bomb
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $75 million initial production contract for the GBU-75, a jet-powered long-range variant of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). Boeing's BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Unit is a wing-and-turbojet engine kit that converts a 500-pound JDAM into a cruise missile-like weapon capable of flying over 300 nautical miles. Boeing invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the program. The first GBU-75s are destined for the U.S. Navy, which successfully tested the weapon in April 2026, with Super Hornets launching two rounds that flew approximately 200 nautical miles and demonstrated maneuvering capabilities. The weapon can be carried by any aircraft capable of dropping conventional JDAMs without modification. The contract is an undefinitized action, meaning Boeing began work before final price agreement, which the Government Accountability Office considers risky.
Read sourceUS Air Force Clears Boeing JDAM LR for Initial Production with $75 Million Contract
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $75 million undefinitized contract action to begin production of the BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Unit Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range (JDAM LR). This milestone follows successful test flights off California in April 2025, where a JDAM LR dropped from an F/A-18 Super Hornet flew nearly 200 nautical miles in 34 minutes. The munition integrates a wing kit and compact turbojet engine with existing JDAM guidance, delivering a 226 kg payload at ranges over 300 nautical miles. Boeing has invested nearly $100 million internally in the program. The JDAM LR is compatible with over 3,500 aircraft across 15 platforms, including U.S. Air Force and Navy fighters and bombers, as well as international partners' aircraft. Boeing is establishing manufacturing facilities in St. Charles, Missouri, and conducting qualification and integration activities for initial deployment.
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