US to provide Ukraine with modified JDAM-ER long-range smart bombs

Ukraine's Armed Forces are to receive smart bombs with extended range this year. Boeing will hand over and as part of a $1.85bn military aid package announced in December 2022.

Here's What We Know

We are talking about the Joint Direct Attack Munition - Extended Range (JDAM-ER) aircraft bombs. Compared to conventional JDAMs, they have a launch range of 72.5 km versus 28 km. In January 2023, Boeing received a $40.5 million contract from the U.S. Air Force. It is due to be completed by June 30, 2023.

This is reported by Bloomberg with reference to two sources familiar with the situation and who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity. At the same time, the United States has not officially confirmed the shipment of extended-range smart bombs to Ukraine.

The JDAM-ER has been developed jointly with the Royal Australian Air Force. The carriers of the smart bomb are US fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles. Ukraine has neither the former nor the latter, so the JDAM-ER is likely to be integrated into Soviet fighters, as it was with the AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missiles.

Source: Bloomberg