Boeing cleared to produce jet-powered JDAM-LR for US Navy, extending strike range to 345+ miles

Boeing has received clearance to begin production of the Joint Direct Attack Munition-Long Range (JDAM-LR) precision-guided weapon for the U.S. Navy. The JDAM-LR is essentially a small cruise missile derived from the JDAM family of precision-guided bombs, offering the Navy—and potentially other services—a new means of bolstering stocks of air-launched stand-off munitions.

This development follows the Navy's announcement in April of successful test launches of JDAM-LRs from F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters.

Contract Details

In a press release issued yesterday, Boeing announced it had received an Undefinitized Contract Action (UCA) from the U.S. Air Force valued at $75 million related to JDAM-LR production for the Navy. The Air Force serves as the central manager for the joint-service JDAM program.

By definition, a UCA means the parties must still work out the final details of the deal, including the price point. UCAs are often used to initiate work in response to urgent requirements.

Industry Statement

"This first production contract is a major milestone for the JDAM LR program, demonstrating our ability to deliver long-range precision-strike capability at a significantly lower cost," said Bob Ciesla, Vice President of Boeing Precision Engagement Systems. "Scaling production of the GBU-75 will provide the fleet with an affordable, sustainable solution designed to eliminate long-range land and sea-based threats to U.S. and international forces and enable them to safely and effectively operate in a contested battlespace."

Designations

• GBU-75/B — The designation applied to complete JDAM-LR munitions.
• BSU-111/B — The designation for the weapon's core component, the Payload Delivery Unit (PDU) .

How the JDAM-LR Works

Like unpowered JDAMs, the JDAM-LR is more of a kit than a standalone munition. The PDU contains:

• Guidance section
• Systems to interface with the launching aircraft
• A pop-out wing kit
• A compact turbojet engine (understood to be the TDI-J85)

The PDU is then combined with a standardized low-drag 500-pound-class bomb as its warhead to create a complete weapon.

Modular Flexibility

As with other JDAM variants—which also come in 1,000-pound and 2,000-pound classes—the modular kit-type design offers significant flexibility in how JDAM-LRs can be configured. Boeing has previously shown depictions of what it originally called the Powered JDAM (PJDAM) paired with:

• General-purpose high-explosive bombs
• Air-dropped shallow-water anti-ship mines

Many other 500-pound-class bombs with the same form factor are already available, including specialized designs intended to reduce the risk of collateral damage.

Guidance System

The JDAM-LR leverages the GPS-assisted inertial navigation system from the unpowered JDAM family. This guidance method can only be used to target static coordinates.

Boeing has previously shown concepts for multi-mode guidance packages that could also include active seekers, such as radar or imaging infrared systems, enabling strikes on moving targets at sea and on land. Boeing already produces a version of the 500-pound-class JDAM that adds a laser seeker for engaging moving targets.

Stand-Off Range

The biggest capability boost offered by the JDAM-LR over existing JDAM types is its stand-off range:

| Variant | Maximum Range | |---------|---------------| | JDAM-LR (powered) | More than 345 miles (300 nautical miles) | | Standard JDAM (unpowered) | Approximately 15 miles | | JDAM-ER (extended range, pop-out wings) | Approximately 45 miles |

Range depends on various factors, especially release altitude and the speed of the launch platform.

Cost and Production

Boeing says it has invested nearly $100 million of its own money in this program, which traces its roots back to at least the late 2010s. The design's reliance on existing JDAM technology offers benefits in terms of cost and scalability of production.