Boeing Secures $75-Million Contract for Advanced Smart Missile Production

Boeing has secured a $75-million contract from the US Air Force to begin production of its advanced smart missile, the Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range Payload Delivery Unit. This marks a significant milestone for the JDAM LR program, which is transitioning from development to initial production.

The JDAM-LR is an upgraded version of the current JDAM precision-guided weapons, featuring foldable wings and a small turbojet engine that enables it to deliver a 500-lb payload over 300 nautical miles. Boeing invested nearly $100 million in developing the JDAM LR before securing the production contract.

The company's existing JDAM production infrastructure will be used for manufacturing, which is expected to minimize procurement costs and expedite supply replenishment for the Pentagon.