Boeing Lands First Production Deal for Jet-Powered JDAM, Extending Bomb Range Past 300 Miles

Boeing’s Jet-Powered Bomb Kit Moves from Testing to Initial Production

The U.S. Air Force has committed $75 million to an initial production run of a jet-powered guided bomb capable of flying more than 300 nautical miles, Boeing announced Wednesday. The contract, awarded through the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Hill Air Force Base, covers the first batch of BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Units—a wing-and-turbojet engine kit that transforms a standard 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) into the GBU-75 Long-Range JDAM (JDAM LR).

The add-on kit, powered by a Kratos-designed TDI-J85 engine, stretches the bomb’s reach from the 40 nautical miles delivered by existing wing-kit variants to over 300 nautical miles, effectively giving gravity bombs the range of a cruise missile. Boeing has invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the program. The first GBU-75s are destined for the U.S. Navy, which demonstrated the weapon in April when Super Hornets released two rounds over the Point Mugu Sea Range. One flew for 34 minutes and landed within meters of its target; the other added altitude changes and maneuvering, each covering roughly 200 nautical miles.

The award is an undefinitized contract action, meaning Boeing started work before the two sides settled on a price—an arrangement the Government Accountability Office has repeatedly flagged as risky because contractors are reimbursed for allowable costs regardless of final negotiations. Boeing’s announcement did not disclose the number of kits involved, their unit cost, or delivery timelines.

What the JDAM LR Means for Naval Strike and the Defense Industry

From Gravity Bomb to Cruise Missile—The JDAM LR Transformation

The GBU-75 represents a generational leap for the JDAM family. Standard JDAMs with a tail kit glide roughly 15 nautical miles; a wing kit pushes that to 40. Adding a small turbojet engine and extra wings effectively turns the munition into a powered standoff weapon. The Kratos TDI-J85 is a compact, affordable engine designed for such applications, giving the bomb both endurance and the ability to maneuver in flight. Boeing’s claim of a 300-nautical-mile reach—and the April test showing precision at 200—suggests a capability that puts high-value, mobile targets within range while keeping launch platforms outside the engagement zone of modern area-denial systems.

Why the Navy Wants It: Standoff Range in Contested Seas

The Navy’s push for greater standoff range is explicit. Capt. Sarah Abbott, the service’s Precision Strike Weapons program manager, said after the April tests that naval air forces “continue to rely heavily on JDAM systems” and that the program “recognizes a critical need to provide the fleet with greater standoff range.” The JDAM LR allows pilots to engage targets “from significantly safer distances, maintaining a tactical advantage in contested environments.” That calculus is especially relevant in the Western Pacific, where long-range anti-ship and air-defense threats force carriers to operate further from shore. The Navy is also exploring a QuickStrike Long Range mining variant that pairs the GBU-75 with a ship-tracking sensor, expanding the weapon’s utility beyond land strikes.

Procurement on Fast Track: Boeing’s Undefinitized Contract and Self-Funded Effort

The undefinitized contract action signals urgency. Boeing’s willingness to start work before price agreement—and to sink nearly $100 million in internal R&D—reflects confidence in the weapon’s future. However, the contracting method leaves taxpayer costs uncertain until terms are finalized, and it has drawn criticism from the GAO as a driver of cost overruns. The award follows the Navy’s successful demonstration, suggesting a strong alignment between the service’s operational demand and Boeing’s development timeline.

The Industrial Ripple: Kratos, Boeing, and Reusing Existing Infrastructure

Because the JDAM LR is a modification to the baseline JDAM program, it exploits the existing production line and guidance hardware. Any aircraft that can drop a conventional JDAM—F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, for instance, but potentially also Air Force bombers—can carry the new variant without modification. That lowers integration costs and accelerates fielding. For Kratos, the engine contract represents a growing revenue stream tied to a high-volume munitions program. For Boeing, the kit opens a new door to sales: re-arming existing bomb inventories with a drastically upgraded capability rather than buying entirely new, expensive cruise missiles. Boeing has shown concept art loading large numbers onto B-52s and B-1s, but an Air Force buy has not yet been announced.

The Road Ahead: Priorities for the Pentagon, Boeing, and the Fleet

• For Pentagon budget planners: The undefinitized contract should be closely monitored for cost growth; GAO has repeatedly warned that such actions can erode budget discipline. Set milestones for definitization linked to production quantity disclosures.
• For fleet commanders: Expect initial operational capability on Super Hornet squadrons, likely within the next budget cycle, given the April test success. Begin planning integration into carrier strike group training and tactics for long-range maritime strike.
• For Boeing: Securing a commitment from the Air Force for its bomber fleet would dramatically increase the program’s scale. The company should also pursue international JDAM operators—Australia, Israel, South Korea, and others—who may value the range upgrade without aircraft modifications.
• For Kratos: The engine supply chain and production capacity should be mapped against potential order quantities, as this contract could become a multi-year revenue driver if the weapon enters full-rate production.