The US Air Force has awarded Boeing a $600-million contract for Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Laser JDAM testing and integration.
The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract covers technical services and support, aircraft and weapon system integration, and sustainment.
It also involves foreign military sales to Israel, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Turkey.
Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed by September 2035.
Improved Precision
The JDAM is a guidance kit that transforms unguided or “dumb” bombs into precision-guided munitions through its inertial navigation system combined with a GPS receiver.
Meanwhile, the laser JDAM has the same tech as the standard version plus a laser sensor to home in on stationary and moving targets with high precision, regardless of weather conditions.
These munitions are compatible with a wide range of military aircraft, such as bombers and fighter jets.
They can be fitted to bombs with a weight range of 500 pounds (228 kilograms) to 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms).
Last May, the US Air Force also ordered JDAM Precision Kits for $7.5 billion from Boeing.
