When precision guided munitions like the Tomahawk missile entered service, they allowed the U.S. military to strike targets with lethal accuracy while reducing collateral damage. But these weapons were expensive.
To cut costs, the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) was developed. By adding a GPS and steering fins to a “dumb,” free-fall bomb, the military created “smart” bombs. Now, Boeing is giving the JDAM legs with turbojet engine kit to extend its range.
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On Aug. 5, 2026, Boeing announced that the Air Force awarded the company a $75 million contract for BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Units (PDUs). When fitted to a standard 500-pound JDAM, the complete weapon system becomes the GBU-75 Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range (JDAM LR). With its turbojet, the PDU will extend the JDAM’s range from 15 nautical miles to over 300 nautical miles.
From dumb bomb to smart bomb, the JDAM LR is effectively a discount cruise missile. For comparison, the Navy’s ship-launched Harpoon Block II+ ER anti-ship missile has a shorter range of 167.5 nautical miles and a lighter 300-pound warhead. With JDAM LR dropping from a plane, carrier strike groups can now reach even farther away from the ship to hit targets.
“As Naval Air Force’s in theater continue to rely heavily on JDAM systems, the program recognizes a critical need to provide the fleet with greater standoff range,” Navy Precision Strike Weapons program manager Capt. Sarah Abbott said in a press release. “[JDAM LR] allows pilots to engage targets from significantly safer distances, maintaining a tactical advantage in contested environments.”
JDAM LR successfully completed its first flight tests with the Navy in April 2026. The tests validated the system’s range and accuracy, flying roughly 200 nautical miles in 34 minutes and landing within meters of the target. JDAMs are procured by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center for both the Air Force and Navy, and the first delivery of the new JDAM LRs is slated for the Navy.
“This first production contract is a major milestone for the JDAM LR program, demonstrating our ability to deliver long-range precision-strike capability at a significantly lower cost,” said Bob Ciesla, vice president of Boeing Precision Engagement Systems. “Scaling production of the GBU-75 will provide the fleet with an affordable, sustainable solution designed to eliminate long-range land and sea-based threats to U.S. and international forces and enable them to safely and effectively operate in a contested battlespace.”
A mining variant of the GBU-75, called the QuickStrike Long Range, uses a Mark 82 bomb with a sensor that can track surface ships. This would expand the platform’s versatility and provide the Navy and Air Force with more lethal capabilities against enemy vessels.
Critically, all existing U.S. military aircraft that can carry the JDAM can also carry the JDAM LR without modification. This includes the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters and the Air Force’s B-52 Stratofortress bombers.
Neither Boeing nor the military announced how many JDAM LRs would be acquired. As the conflict with Iran continues, U.S. weapon stockpiles are being depleted. This latest acquisition represents both a necessary replenishment and valuable upgrade to benefit the warfighter. Boeing did note that the JDAM LR program is setting up manufacturing space at its St. Charles, Missouri facility.
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