U.S. Navy Approves Production of Jet-Powered JDAM-LR Standoff Munitions

Published Aug 6, 11:15 PM UTC

Boeing has received a $75 million Undefinitized Contract Action from the U.S. Air Force to begin production of the Joint Direct Attack Munition-Long Range (JDAM-LR) for the U.S. Navy. The JDAM-LR is a powered, cruise-missile-like variant of the standard JDAM, combining a 500-pound-class bomb with a pop-out wing kit and a compact turbojet engine. It offers a standoff range of over 345 miles, far exceeding the 15-mile range of unpowered JDAMs. The weapon, designated GBU-75/B, uses GPS-assisted inertial navigation for targeting static coordinates, with potential for future multi-mode seekers. The contract follows successful test launches from F/A-18E/F Super Hornets in April 2024. Boeing has invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the program, which aims to provide the Navy with an affordable, long-range precision-strike capability for contested environments.