U.S. Navy Tests New Long-Range GBU-75 JDAM LR

An urgent requirement for JDAM LR comes amid the depletion of various long-range strike capabilities currently fielded by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, including exquisite weapons, across the Middle East throughout the ongoing conflict in Iran.

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — The U.S. Navy announced its first tests of Boeing’s Joint Direct Attack Munition – Long Range (JDAM LR) on Monday, with two launches traveling 200 nautical miles to their targets off the coast of California.

The tests events demonstrated “the weapon’s safe separation; the ability to use existing aircraft interfaces; and controlled, powered free-flight and navigation”, according to a press release published on Monday. Both demonstrations, on April 1 and April 3, flew a full mission profile to their targets.

The April 1 test demonstrated separation and a 34-minute flight for 200 nautical miles before landing within a few meters of its planned target. The April 3 test flew an advanced flight profile with altitude changes and maneuvering throughout the flight.

The service is moving forward with JDAM LR testing at-sea on carriers, pushing the urgent requirement of long-range strike weapons to carrier air wings as soon as possible. The JDAM LR requires no additional aircraft equipment or software, making the test requirements far more simple compared to a clean-sheet missile.

Boeing displayed the JDAM LR on B-52 Stratofortress bombers in a sea mine and anti-ship role earlier this year, but so far the U.S. Navy is the only service known to be pursuing the capability in earnest—with initial flight testing already complete.

“As Naval Air Forces in theater continue to rely heavily on JDAM systems, the program recognizes a critical need to provide the fleet with greater standoff range. This new capability allows pilots to engage targets from significantly safer distances, maintaining a tactical advantage in contested environments.”

Giving 4th generation fighters increased standoff with low-cost weapons provides naval aviation platforms with significantly enhanced survivability compared to legacy stand-in JDAM variants, multiplying the range tenfold or more to keep fighters and bombers outside contested or denied airspace during land attack and anti-ship missions.

The urgent requirement for JDAM LR comes amid the depletion of various long-range strike capabilities currently fielded by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, including exquisite weapons, across the Middle East throughout the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Additional enhancements include seekers and datalinks that can be powered by an onboard 1.5kW generator. Boeing marks the range of JDAM LR at over 300 nautical miles, with a decoy variant of the missile—which swaps the 500lb Mark 82 warhead with a fuel tank—hitting ranges over 700 nautical miles.

Every variant requires little to no changes to the base chassis, giving the U.S. Navy various options for stand-off strike and minelaying.

“First flight is a critical step in capturing the JDAM Long Range franchise program. This weapon brings the cruise missile concept to the JDAM family at a lower cost, enabling large production quantities.”