On Monday, April 20, 2026, the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) published two photographs on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) from tests conducted on April 1 and 3 of this year off the coast of California. During the tests, a two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet multirole aircraft tested for the first time the tail guidance kit for GBU-75 Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range (JDAM LR) bombs, previously designated Powered JDAM, developed by Boeing in cooperation with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions.
Photos: US Navy
The April 1 test confirmed separation from the aircraft and a 34-minute flight over a distance of 370 km (200 nautical miles), followed by an impact within a few meters of the target. The April 3 test included an advanced flight profile with altitude changes and maneuvers. The trials demonstrated the ability to use the aircraft’s existing mechanical and electronic interfaces, as well as controlled powered free flight and navigation to the target.
Capt. Sarah Abbott, program manager for Precision Strike Weapons at the PMA-201 program office, said that because naval aviation forces in theater continue to rely heavily on JDAM systems, the program recognizes the urgent need to provide the fleet with greater standoff range. She added that this new capability enables pilots to engage targets from a much safer distance while preserving a tactical advantage in conflict conditions.
The JDAM LR is the previously designated Powered JDAM, a weapon system unveiled in March 2020. It consists of a 227-kg (500-lb) bomb fitted with wings and a jet engine, and will occupy a similar amount of space under an aircraft’s wing – or in an F-35 weapons bay – as a 907-kg Mark 84 bomb. The new weapon is intended to be a relatively low-cost alternative to cruise missiles, with an estimated range of around 560 km.
On October 16, 2023, it was reported that the TDI-J85 turbojet engine, with 90 kg (200 lb) of thrust, would be provided for the system by U.S. company Technical Directions, Inc. (TDI), part of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. The relatively simple architecture of the TDI-J85 is capable of producing 90 kg of usable thrust under static conditions at sea level. The specific requirements for the Powered JDAM project were met through modifications enabling the desired thrust output required in the design study.
The permanent-magnet generator integrated with the TDI-J85 engine produces up to 1.5 kW of AC power, from idle to maximum rotational speeds, as required to power the system’s onboard systems.
It is known that the JDAM LR will also enter service with B-52H/J Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer strategic bombers.
Boeing is also developing JDAM LR variants, namely Quickstrike LR and Maritime Strike, which differ in their warheads. The company has produced more than 400,000 bomb conversion kits, including LJDAM (Laser) variants with laser seekers, which have been used in combat by many armed forces of NATO member states and others, and are currently being used by Ukraine, which received extended-range JDAM-ER kits. The Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM), a precision extended-range air-launched missile, has also been developed for Ukraine.
Photo: Boeing
