Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) | |
---|---|
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | Since 1999 |
Used by | See operators |
Wars |
|
Production history | |
Designer | McDonnell Douglas |
Designed | Late 1980s–1996 |
Manufacturer | Boeing Defense, Space & Security |
Unit cost | US $21,000–$36,000[note 1] |
Variants | See variants |
Specifications (see specifications) | |
Launch platform | F-15E, F-16, F/A-18, F/A-18E/F, AV-8B, A-10, B-1B, B-52H, F-22, B-2A, F-35, MQ-9, MiG-29, Su-27, Tornado, Gripen |
References | Janes[3][4] & The War Zone[1][2] |
The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or "dumb bombs", into all-weather precision-guided munitions. JDAM-equipped bombs are guided by an integrated inertial guidance system coupled to a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, giving them a published range of up to 15 nautical miles (28 km). JDAM-equipped bombs range from 500 to 2,000 pounds (230 to 910 kg).[5] The JDAM's guidance system was jointly developed by the United States Air Force and United States Navy, hence the "joint" in JDAM.[6] When installed on a bomb, the JDAM kit is given a GBU (Guided Bomb Unit) identifier, superseding the Mark 80 or BLU (Bomb, Live Unit) nomenclature of the bomb to which it is attached.
The JDAM is not a stand-alone weapon; rather it is a "bolt-on" guidance package that converts unguided gravity bombs into precision-guided munitions (PGMs). The key components of the system are a tail section with aerodynamic control surfaces, a (body) strake kit, and a combined inertial guidance system and GPS guidance control unit.[6]
The JDAM was meant to improve upon laser-guided bomb and imaging infrared technology, which can be hindered by bad ground and weather conditions. Laser seekers are now being fitted to some JDAMs.[7]
From 1998 to November 2016, Boeing completed more than 300,000 JDAM guidance kits. In 2017 it built more than 130 kits per day.[8] As of January 2024, 550,000 kits had been produced.[9]
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