Boeing lands $75M Air Force contract for turbojet-powered JDAM bomb
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Boeing and the US Air Force have signed a $75 million undefinitized contract action for the GBU-75, a turbojet-powered JDAM bomb with over 300 nautical miles of range. The deal allows Boeing to begin production before final price terms are settled, with the first units earmarked for the Navy. The agreement follows successful Navy tests in April 2026 and nearly $100 million in Boeing self-investment.
The Turbojet Kit
The GBU-75 integrates a 500-pound JDAM warhead with Boeing's BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Unit and a Kratos TDI-J85 turbojet engine. While earlier JDAM tail kits extended range to 15 nautical miles and wing kits to 40, the turbojet pushes the weapon beyond 300 nautical miles. Boeing invested nearly $100 million of its own funds in the JDAM LR program before securing the Air Force contract.
Testing and Performance
The Navy tested two JDAM LR units from F/A-18 Super Hornets over the Point Mugu Sea Range in April 2026. One flight lasted 34 minutes and covered roughly 200 nautical miles, landing within meters of the target; a second test on April 3 added altitude changes and additional maneuvering. Capt. Sarah Abbott, Navy Precision Strike Weapons program manager, cited a critical need for greater standoff range as forces rely heavily on JDAM systems.
Contract Details
The $75 million undefinitized contract action allows Boeing to start production before final price negotiations conclude. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Hill Air Force Base manages JDAM buys for both services, but the first GBU-75 batch goes to the Navy. As of August 5, the award had not appeared on the Pentagon's daily contract list, and the Government Accountability Office has warned that such arrangements carry financial risk until final terms are set.
What's Next
Production of the GBU-75 is expected to ramp up, with the Navy receiving initial units soon. It remains unclear when the Air Force will place its own orders, and the GAO warns that undefinitized contracts carry financial risks until final terms are reached.
1 source
Boeing lands $75M Air Force contract for turbojet-powered JDAM bomb
