Israel to receive major JDAM system delivery from US to enhance airpower
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) precision-guided bomb (Illustrative photo: wikipedia.org)
The US Department of State has approved the sale of JDAM guidance kits for two types of aviation bombs to Israel, valued at over half a billion dollars, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
The deal includes the sale to Israel of:
- 3,845 JDAM guidance kits for BLU-109 bombs;
- 3,280 JDAM guidance kits for MK 82 bombs.
In addition, the agreement covers US government and contractor engineering, logistics, and technical services, as well as other related logistical and program support elements. The estimated total value of the deal is approximately $510 million.
“The proposed sale will enhance Israel’s capability to meet current and future threats by improving its ability to defend Israel’s borders, vital infrastructure, and population centers,” the DSCA statement reads.
The primary contractor for the deal will be The Boeing Company, based in St. Charles, Missouri.
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a kit that converts simple, unguided dumb bombs into all-weather precision-guided smart munitions. The kit includes an inertial navigation system combined with GPS guidance.
The modified JDAM-ER (Extended Range) kit features foldable wings, turning bombs into glide bombs with extended range.
Between 1998 and November 2016, Boeing produced over 300,000 JDAM guidance kits. As of January 2024, total production had reached 550,000 kits.
US military aid to Israel
Upon taking office, President Donald Trump lifted restrictions on the supply of heavy aerial bombs to Israel that had been imposed by the Biden administration.
These restrictions were introduced amid Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, amid concerns that the use of heavy bombs would cause significant civilian casualties in the Palestinian enclave.
In early March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved a military aid package for Israel worth nearly $4 billion.
