The U.S. Navy recently successfully completed the flight test of the "Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range" (JDAM-LR). This new retrofit kit can transform ordinary cast iron unguided bombs into jet-propelled cruise missiles that can be launched by aircraft carrier-based aircraft, with a range of more than 200 nautical miles (about 370 kilometers).
The JDAM concept can be traced back to the 1991 Gulf War. At that time, the then Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, General Merrill McPeak, was not satisfied with the performance of the Air Force's precision-guided weapons on the battlefield and wanted to obtain a "precision-guided munition that can be used in severe weather conditions." Within a year, this idea evolved into the "Joint Direct Attack Munition" (JDAM) project. The core is to use low-cost ideas to add plug-in kits to the existing Mk 80 series general-purpose bombs, turning the stock "iron bombs" into guided weapons with precision strike capabilities.
This idea has been proven to save a lot of money. The cost of a single Mk 80 series bomb is approximately US$3,000 to US$16,000, depending on the bomb weight. By adding a basic JDAM kit that includes a GPS/inertial guidance system and a steerable tail, the unguided bomb can achieve a gliding strike radius of about 15 nautical miles (28 kilometers) and hit within an accuracy range of 42 feet (about 13 meters) near the target. The total cost is about $34,000 (including the bomb body).
In the approximately 35 years since then, Boeing, as the main contractor of the JDAM project, has continuously introduced improved models, including a version that incorporates laser guidance, and an "extended range" (JDAM-ER) that extends the range through a large aspect ratio wing. Under high-altitude and even supersonic speed launch conditions, the launch distance can reach 39 nautical miles (about 72 kilometers) or even further.
The latest JDAM-LR goes further on this basis. According to Boeing, the JDAM-LR, which will be tested in April 2026, integrates a TDI-J85 turbojet engine into the external plug-in kit. When used in combination with a 500-pound bomb, the combat radius of the weapon can exceed 300 nautical miles (approximately 555 kilometers); if the warhead position is changed to an external auxiliary fuel tank and used as a decoy bomb, the range can exceed 700 nautical miles (approximately 1,296 kilometers).
In addition to the significant increase in range, the turbojet engine can also drive a 1.5-kilowatt generator to power more advanced seekers, data links and mission electronics. Like the previous JDAM series, JDAM-LR is compatible with all combat platforms that have completed JDAM adaptation certification, including various fourth-generation fighter jets. It also uses the original airborne interface and software system to facilitate rapid integration of troops.
However, as a "high-end version", the cost of a single system of JDAM-LR has also increased, reaching more than 200,000 US dollars each. Even so, compared to the AGM-158 "Joint Standoff Air-to-Surface Missile" (JASSM), which costs about US$1 million each, JDAM-LR is still regarded as a relatively low-cost long-range precision strike option.
In the latest round of testing, the Navy focused on verifying key indicators such as safe detachment, interface compatibility with airborne systems, and powered cruise and navigation control capabilities over a flight distance of more than 200 nautical miles. During the test firing, JDAM-LR was mounted on a US Navy F/A-18 fighter jet and launched, verifying its application prospects in the carrier aviation combat system.
“As theater naval aviation continues to rely more on JDAM systems, it is clear to the program team that it must provide the fleet with greater standoff range,” said Capt. Sarah Abbott, director of the Precision Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA-201). “This new capability allows pilots to engage targets at safer distances and maintain tactical advantage in highly contested environments.”