The USA handed over the GPS-guided JDAM bombs to Ukraine – Bloomberg

The US is providing Ukraine with a long-range GPS-guided bomb, capable of hitting targets 72 km away.

Bloomberg reported this with reference to industry officials.

There is no official information from the Pentagon about the transfer of these munitions, but the likelihood of their transfer was announced at the end of December last year.

Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munition could come as part of a $1.85 billion aid package. They were designated as “precision aerial munitions.”

The media adds that two people familiar with the matter confirmed the weapon to be JDAM.

It is the Extended-Range Jdam, known as the Jdam-ER.

Pentagon spokeswoman Kelly Flynn mentioned that the US would not identify the munitions for operational security reasons. These shells are used by the US Air Force and the US Navy and are sold to 26 countries.

It is also reported that on January 20, the Boeing company received a $40.5 million order to manufacture ammunition from the US Air Force within the existing contract. The work should be completed by June 30.

Therefore, it is likely that the United States and Ukraine have developed a method of launching JDAMs from Ukrainian air force aircraft.

JDAMs are GPS technology-based hardware kits that convert simple free-falling bombs into all-weather guided ammunition.

The kit includes an inertial navigation system and GPS receiver to improve accuracy, along with the small wings attached to the middle of the bomb and a tail unit with a controlled tail that allows the bomb to adjust its course while approaching the target. The unit contains navigation and other equipment.

The Jdam-ER was developed in cooperation with the Royal Australian Air Force for 230 kg bombs, and later a 907 kg munition system was developed in cooperation with South Korea.

As previously reported, BAE Systems will develop a homing system for air-based anti-ship munitions with a JDAM kit.