Joint Direct Attack Munition
Sign in to saveAlso known as JDAM
kit which converts unguided bombs into guided munitions
Key facts
- Place of origin
- United States
- In service
- Since 1999
- Used by
- See operators
- Designer
- McDonnell Douglas
- Designed
- Late 1980s–1996
- Manufacturer
- Boeing Defense, Space & Security
- Unit cost
- US $21,000–$36,000
- Variants
- See variants
- 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
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- GBU-31 xxl.jpg
Show 5 more facts
- service entry
- 1997-01-01
- Commons category
- Joint Direct Attack Munition
- price
- 64000
- production rate
- 25000
- total produced
- 500000
via Wikidata · CC0
~28 min read
Article
The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or "dumb bombs", into all-weather precision-guided munitions (PGMs). 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). The JDAM's guidance system was jointly developed by the United States Air Force and United States Navy, hence the "joint" in JDAM. 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 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.