Joint Direct Attack Munition facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM)
GBU-31: A Mk 84 bomb fitted with JDAM kit
Type	Bomb guidance kit
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1997–present
Production history
Unit cost	Approx. US$25,000 (Depends on acquisition lot. Foreign sales have considerably higher prices.)
Specifications
Length	9.9–12.75 feet (3.02–3.89 m)
Maximum firing range	Up to 15 nautical miles (28 km)
Wingspan	19.6 to 25 inches (500 to 640 mm)
Guidance system	Inertial guidance/GPS
Accuracy	Specified 13 meters; Realized around 7 meters

The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a low-cost guidance kit that converts existing unguided gravity bombs, or "dumb bombs", into accurate, all-weather "smart" munitions. JDAM equipped bombs are guided to their target by an integrated inertial guidance system coupled with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for enhanced accuracy, giving them a published range of up to 15 nautical miles from the release point. JDAM is a joint United States Air Force and United States Navy program. It is in service with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps.

Overview

The JDAM is not a stand alone weapon system, rather it is a "bolt-on" upgrade for unguided gravity bombs that is installed in the field by aircraft armorers. JDAM equipped bombs range in size from 500 lbs (225 kg) to 2000 lbs (900 kg). The kit is compatible with the entire family Mk-80 family of general purpose bombs, as well as the corresponding BLU pentrator warheads.

JDAM enables accurate delivery against high priority fixed and relocatable targets from both fighter and bomber aircraft. As further upgrades to the kit, to include terminal laser guidance, are added, the capability to engage moving targets will expand the mission flexibility of aircraft carrying JDAM equipped bombs.

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.

From 1998 to November 2016, Boeing completed over 300,000 JDAM guidance kits. In September 2012, Boeing began full-rate production of Laser JDAM for US Navy and received a contract for more than 2,300 bomb kits.

History & Development

Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) operators

Desert Storm highlighted a shortfall in air-to-surface weapon capability. Limited visibility of the ground caused by smoke, fog, dust and cloud cover limited the employment of precision guided munitions. The first JDAMs were delivered in 1997 with operational testing conducted in 1998 and 1999. More than 450 JDAMs were dropped during testing, recording an unprecedented 95 percent system reliability. JDAM performance has been demonstrated in operationally representative tests including drops through clouds, rain and snow.

On September 10, 2003, a B-2 Spirit bomber successfully released eighty (80) inert 500 pound (230 kg) JDAM munitions on a single sortie, demonstrating a saturation precision attack capability not thought possible in the early days of smart weapons.

JDAM bombs are cheap compared to alternatives such as cruise missiles. The original estimate was $40,000 each for tail kits, but after competitive bidding, contracts were signed with McDonnell Douglas (later overtaken by Boeing) for delivery at $18,000 each. For instance, the newest Tomahawk, dubbed the Tactical Tomahawk, costs nearly $730,000 apiece, and despite its tremendous operational capabilities will not replace manned aircraft carrying JDAMs, and other "smart munitions."

Another advantage is a true “fire-and-forget” capability in which the weapon does not require any support after being launched. This allows the launching aircraft to leave the target area and proceed to its next mission immediately after launching the GPS guided weapon.

Images for kids

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  U.S. Navy sailors attach a JDAM kit aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64), in March 2003.

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  The first flight test of the first GPS-guided weapon resulted in a direct hit on a target at Eglin Air Force Base on 10 February 1993.

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  Ex-Schenectady (LST-1185) damaged by seven 2,000-pound JDAMs during USAF exercise Resultant Fury on 23 November 2004.

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  JDAMs loaded under the left wing of an F-16 Fighting Falcon with a LITENING II Targeting Pod visible beneath the fuselage

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  JDAMs prior to being loaded for operations over Iraq, 2003

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  GBU-38 explosions in Iraq in 2008.

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  DSU-33 Airburst sensor (right)

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  GBU-54 laser seeker.

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  JDAMs loaded onto a Heavy Stores Adaptor Beam (HSAB) under the wing of a B-52H Stratofortress

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  2,000lb GBU-31s ripple drop in Afghanistan by two F-15Es, 2009.

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  USAF artist rendering of JDAM kits fitted to Mk 84, BLU-109, Mk 83, and Mk 82 unguided bombs.

See also

In Spanish: JDAM para niños