JDAM Kits

The US Air Force has awarded a $126m contract to Boeing for the supply of an additional 5,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

The USAF contract is the third for conventional JDAM kits within a year. The first $88m contract for 3,500 was awarded in January 2011, and the second $92m contract for an additional 4,000 kits in March 2011. The modular low-cost guidance kit converts existing unguided bombs into precision-guided weapons and allows for a variety of technological upgrades such as wing kits to offer three times the range, improved immunity to GPS jamming and an all-weather radar sensor.

Boeing Direct Attack Weapons director Kristin Robertson said that the laser kits are employed by the USAF and US Navy every day in combat.

"It has been incredibly effective in attacking important moving targets accurately and reliably, with minimal collateral damage. Adding the laser sensor to the conventional JDAM kit is an affordable option that’s easy for ordnance crews to install and very straightforward for pilots already familiar with JDAM," Robertson said.

The kits, declared as an urgent operational need in early 2007, completed the development and testing cycle in less than 17 months. The first production laser sensor kits were delivered to the USAF in May 2008 and were successfully employed in Iraq in August 2008.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Deliveries under the contract are scheduled to commence in June 2013 and will run through May 2014. More than 230,000 JDAM tail kits have been built by Boeing for use by 26 international militaries since production began in 1998.

Image: The JDAM guidance kit converts existing unguided bombs into precision-guided weapons. Photo: US Air Force.