Joint Direct Attack Munition

Joint Direct Attack Munitions
(JDAM)
Joint Direct Attack Munitions; (JDAM)
	A Mk 84 bomb fitted with GBU-31 JDAM kit
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	Since 1999
Used by	See operators
Wars	Kurdish–Turkish conflict; NATO bombing of Yugoslavia; War on Terror; War in Afghanistan; War in North-West Pakistan; Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen; Iraq War; Somalia War (2006–2009); Somali Civil War; 2011 military intervention in Libya; Syrian Civil War; American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War; American-led intervention in Iraq; Turkish military intervention in Syria; Operation Olive Branch; War in Iraq (2013–2017); Yemeni Civil War; Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen; Conflict in Najran, Jizan and Asir; Siege of Marawi; Russian Invasion of Ukraine; Israel–Hamas war;
Production history
Designer	McDonnell Douglas
Designed	Late 1980s–1996
Manufacturer	Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Unit cost	US $21,000–$36,000
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 & The War Zone

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]

^ ^a ^b Trevithick, Joseph (18 February 2020). "Here Is What Each Of The Pentagon's Air-Launched Missiles And Bombs Actually Cost". The Drive. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
^ ^a ^b Newdick, Thomas; Rogoway, Tyler (15 December 2022). "What Joint Direct Attack Munitions Could Do For Ukraine". The Drive. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
^ Janes (1 June 2023), "GBU-31/32/38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)", Janes Weapons: Air Launched, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited., retrieved 28 August 2023
^ Janes (30 May 2023), "GBU-54/55/56 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM)", Janes Weapons: Air Launched, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited., retrieved 28 August 2023
^ Hansen, Ryan (17 March 2006). "JDAM continues to be warfighter's weapon of choice". U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
^ ^a ^b "Joint Direct Attack Munition GBU- 31/32/38". U.S. Air Force. 18 June 2003. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
^ "Laser Guided JDAM Debuts in Iraq". Defense Update. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
^ Bogan, Jesse (27 January 2017). "Boeing boosts production of precision-guided bomb kits made in St. Charles to fight ongoing wars by air". St Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023.
^ "Boeing: Boeing - Precision Engagement Systems". www.boeing.com. Retrieved 2024-01-22.

Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).

[WarZone-Trevithick-1] Trevithick, Joseph (18 February 2020). "Here Is What Each Of The Pentagon's Air-Launched Missiles And Bombs Actually Cost". The Drive. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.

[WarZone-Newdick/Rogoway-2] Newdick, Thomas; Rogoway, Tyler (15 December 2022). "What Joint Direct Attack Munitions Could Do For Ukraine". The Drive. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.

[Janes-JDAM-4] Janes (1 June 2023), "GBU-31/32/38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)", Janes Weapons: Air Launched, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited., retrieved 28 August 2023

[Janes-LJDAM-5] Janes (30 May 2023), "GBU-54/55/56 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM)", Janes Weapons: Air Launched, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited., retrieved 28 August 2023

[AFL1-6] Hansen, Ryan (17 March 2006). "JDAM continues to be warfighter's weapon of choice". U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2007.

[USAFfactsheet-7] "Joint Direct Attack Munition GBU- 31/32/38". U.S. Air Force. 18 June 2003. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2014.

[8] "Laser Guided JDAM Debuts in Iraq". Defense Update. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2010.

[9] Bogan, Jesse (27 January 2017). "Boeing boosts production of precision-guided bomb kits made in St. Charles to fight ongoing wars by air". St Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023.

[10] "Boeing: Boeing - Precision Engagement Systems". www.boeing.com. Retrieved 2024-01-22.

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