The United States will give Boeing long-range GPS-guided bombs that can hit a target at a distance of 45 miles (72 km) to Ukraine, Bloomberg reports citing sources.
The agency notes that the Pentagon has not officially recognized the intention to send to Ukraine a modified version of the Joint Direct Attack Munition – a guidance system that turns unguided bombs into high-precision “smart” projectiles. The Defense Department said it would donate “precision-guided airborne munitions” as part of a $1.85 billion aid package announced Dec. 21. However, two sources told Bloomberg that it was JDAM. These GPS-based complexes are used by the US Air Force and Navy, as well as by more than 26 countries.
JDAM-ER complexes can be equipped with unguided bombs weighing from 500 to 2000 pounds (from 226 kg to 907 kg). Once released, the bomb spreads its wings, tripling its maximum range to 45 miles. The extended range JDAM was developed jointly with the Royal Australian Air Force.
On January 20, Boeing received a $40.5 million order from the Air Force under an existing JDAM contract. It must be completed by June 30th.
The agency also says the US and Ukraine have developed a way to launch such bombs from Soviet-era fighter jets used by Ukraine.
Recall that in early February, the Pentagon announced a new package of military assistance to Kyiv, which will include GLSDB homing missiles, the flight range of which exceeds 150 km.
Source: Rosbalt
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