Joint Direct Attack Munition is a GPS/INS-guided, autonomous, all-weather surface attack weapon. The joint USAF-Navy program upgrades the existing inventory of general-purpose bombs by adding a GPS/INS guidance kit for accurate all-weather attack from medium/high altitudes.
The weapons acquire targeting information from the aircraft’s avionics. After release, an inertial guidance kit directs the weapon, aided by periodic GPS updates.
JDAM seeker/tail kits can be mounted on general-purpose or penetrating warheads in each weight class. JDAM can also utilize the 500-lb carbon fiber-cased Very Low Collateral Damage Weapon (VLCDW) for sensitive targets.
A JDAM kit is under development for the 5,000-lb BLU-113 penetrating weapon, slated for integration and flight-testing on the F-15E. The Advanced 2,000-lb (A2K) BLU-137/B weapon is also being developed for integration onto the F-15E and B-2A. A2K will improve both precision and penetration to strike a wider variety of targets, eventually replacing the BLU-109 bunker buster.
JDAM-class weapons are the most frequent air-to-ground munition expended in combat. FY21 procures 10,000 guidance kits to keep pace with current operations, following surge-production to replenished stocks depleted over Iraq and Syria.
USAF is procuring an upgraded tail kit with anti-jam receiver for use in GPS degraded conditions under an Urgent Operational Requirement. The service is also seeking to develop a lighter-weight successor class of weapons incorporating IR/GPS guidance, maneuvering wings, stealth, and EW capabilities.
Testers are currently working to integrate the GBU-38 for operational use on the F-35.
GBU-31/32/38 JDAM Technical Data
Contractors: Boeing, Textron, Honeywell.
First Flight: Oct. 22, 1996.
IOC: 1998.
Active Variants: •GBU-31. GPS/INS guided 2,000-lb GP, or BLU-109 penetrating weapon. •GBU-32. GPS/INS guided 1,000-lb GP, or BLU-110 penetrating weapon. •GBU-38. GPS/INS guided 500-lb GP, or BLU-111 penetrating weapon.
Dimensions: Span 25 in (GBU-31), 19.6 in (GBU-32), 14 in (GBU-38); length (with JDAM and warhead) approx 12 ft (GBU-31), 10 ft (GBU-32), 7.8 ft (GBU-38).
Performance: Range up to 15 miles, CEP with GPS 16.4 ft, CEP with INS only 98 ft.
Guidance: GPS/INS.
Warhead: 2,000-lb Mk 84/BLU-109 (GBU-31); 1,000-lb Mk 83/BLU-110 (GBU- 32); 500-lb Mk 82/BLU-111 (GBU-38).
Integration: A-10C, B-52H, B-2A, B-1B, F-15E, F-16, F-22A, F-35A (GBU31/32), and MQ-9.
