Boeing Gets $7.5B Contract for JDAM Tail Kits

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced a contract valued $7.5 billion for Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM).

This contract provides for JDAM tail kits, spares, repairs, technical and Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition sensor kits.

Work is expected to be completed by Feb. 29, 2030.

To date, Boeing has built more than 500,000 JDAM tail kits.

The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or "dumb bombs," into precision-guided munitions. Developed by Boeing and introduced in 1997, the JDAM kit includes a tail section containing an inertial guidance system and a GPS receiver. This technology allows the bomb to accurately hit targets regardless of weather conditions, day or night.

JDAMs are compatible with a variety of warheads, including the 500-pound MK-82, the 1,000-pound MK-83, and the 2,000-pound MK-84 bombs. The primary advantage of JDAMs is their ability to improve the accuracy of conventional bombs significantly, with a circular error probable (CEP) of around 13 meters under ideal conditions. The guidance kit receives target coordinates from the aircraft before release, and the bomb then autonomously navigates to the target using its GPS and inertial navigation system.

The JDAM system can be employed by a range of military aircraft, including fighters and bombers, such as the F-15, F-16, B-2, and B-52. It has been extensively used in various conflicts to enhance the precision of air-to-ground munitions, reducing collateral damage.