Boeing JDAM LR Precision Strike Weapon

Full Specifications

The Boeing JDAM LR (Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range) is a next generation precision strike weapon developed to extend the reach of conventional air dropped bombs. Building on the proven JDAM family, the JDAM LR combines a GPS and Inertial Navigation System (INS) guidance kit with a deployable wing kit, allowing aircraft to engage targets from significantly greater stand off distances than standard JDAM weapons.

Designed to improve aircraft survivability in highly contested environments, JDAM LR enables strike aircraft to remain farther from advanced air defense systems while maintaining precision accuracy. The system is intended for use against fixed and relocatable land targets and is compatible with several existing Mk 80 series general purpose bombs.

Manufacturer

The JDAM LR is developed and manufactured by Boeing Defense, Space & Security in the United States. It represents an evolution of Boeing’s widely used JDAM guidance kit, which has been integrated on numerous U.S. and allied combat aircraft for decades.

Unlike powered cruise missiles, JDAM LR is an unpowered glide weapon. It relies on the launch aircraft’s altitude and speed while using folding wings to significantly increase glide distance. This approach offers a lower cost precision strike capability while preserving compatibility with existing bomb inventories.

Speed and Range

JDAM LR does not have its own propulsion system. After release, it glides toward the target at high subsonic speed, depending on aircraft launch conditions. Boeing states the system is designed to achieve ranges exceeding 45 nautical miles (approximately 83 kilometers) when released from favorable altitude and speed.

Its GPS and INS guidance provide precise targeting capability, while optional laser guidance can improve effectiveness against moving targets when integrated with compatible guidance kits.

Cost / Price

Boeing has not publicly disclosed the unit cost of the JDAM LR. Pricing will depend on production quantities, configuration, and the specific bomb body used. Since the system upgrades existing bomb inventories instead of creating a completely new missile, it is expected to offer a more affordable long range precision strike option than powered stand off missiles.