$75M US Air Force Contract Secured for JDAM Long Range Munition
Boeing has secured a $75 million US Air Force contract for the initial production of the JDAM Long Range (LR) munition, marking a major milestone in the program's development. The contract follows an internal investment by Boeing of nearly $100 million in the program.
The JDAM LR is a long-range precision munition that can travel over 300 nautical miles with a 500-pound class payload. It combines the rear guidance kit of the existing JDAM with a wing kit and compact turbofan engine to provide long-range conventional strike capability against land, naval, and maritime targets.
According to Boeing, the system recently completed its first successful flight test off the California coast, meeting its objectives of powered flight on a predefined profile and military code GPS navigation. Bob Ciesla, Vice President of Boeing Precision Engagement Systems, described the contract as a 'first step to production' and a significant achievement for the JDAM LR program.
The UCA (Undefinitized Contract Action) valued at $75 million was awarded by the US Air Force from Boeing's Saint-Charles facility in Missouri. This initial production order paves the way for further development and integration of the system on various aircraft capable of carrying conventional JDAM.