Denmark has joined Israel in seeking to procure the Boeing GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), while the US Air Force is expected to conclude flight testing of an extended-range version of the weapon by September.
The US Department of Defense intends to sell Denmark 400 JDAM guidance kits and 120 BLU-109 tactical munition dispensers in a $40 million deal. Boeing is awaiting a $45 million contract from Israel for 700 JDAM kits and Mk84 bombs, and the UK has also expressed interest in procuring JDAM.
The USAF will complete demonstrations of an extended-range JDAM in mid-September at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
The manufacturer-funded test involves marrying a 450kg (990lb) JDAM/BLU-109 with the Alenia Marconi Systems Diamond Back wing kit, which more than doubles its range.
This test will be combined with flights of a 115kg Small Smart Bomb (SSB) version of JDAM.
An overwater extended-range SSB test will take place at Eglin AFB early this month.
Source: Flight International
