Boeing awarded $75M USAF contract for powered long-range JDAM production

Boeing has been awarded a $75 million contract by the United States Air Force covering initial production of a powered, long-range version of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) capable of traveling more than 300 nautical miles, the company announced.

The award follows nearly $100 million of Boeing's own investment in the program, according to the company, and clears the way for initial production of units for the US Navy.

Weapon Specifications

The weapon, designated GBU-75, builds on the existing JDAM guidance tail kit and aircraft interface by adding:

• A wing kit
• A compact turbojet engine
• A 500-pound class payload

Boeing states the weapon is intended for precision land strike, naval strike, and maritime aerial mining.

Executive Statement

Bob Ciesla, vice president of Boeing Precision Engagement Systems, said:

"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. 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."

He added:

"JDAM LR gives operators an affordable, mass-producible option for striking targets from beyond the effective range of enemy defenses."

Flight Testing

The system recently completed its first flight test off the coast of California. According to Boeing, the test met its objectives of sustaining powered flight along a predefined profile while navigating on military-code GPS and guiding to its target.

Background and Context

JDAM originated in the 1990s as a tail kit that bolted onto existing unguided bombs, converting them into satellite-guided weapons at a cost of a few tens of thousands of dollars apiece. Hundreds of thousands of units have been produced since.

Boeing notes that building the long-range version on this foundation allows the use of existing JDAM infrastructure, enabling high-volume production and integration with any aircraft already cleared to carry a conventional JDAM.

Comparative Context

• Cruise missiles with comparable range typically cost well over $1 million each and are produced in limited numbers.
• Western stockpiles have been drawn down faster than they can be replaced during recent operations in the Red Sea and against targets in Yemen and Iran.
• Russia has pursued a similar approach with its UMPK kits, which add wings and guidance to standard high-explosive bombs. These weapons have been used extensively against Ukrainian positions and cities, launched from aircraft standing off outside the range of Ukrainian air defenses, and have proven difficult to intercept in quantity.

Designation Note

The GBU-75 carries a guided bomb unit designation rather than an air-to-surface missile one, following the convention that a weapon without its own propulsion at release remains classified as a bomb.