Air Force Awards Boeing $75 Million to Start Production of New 300-Mile JDAM Missile

The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $75 million contract Wednesday to begin production of the Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range, or GBU-75, a precision-guided weapon designed to hit targets more than 300 nautical miles away while carrying a 500-pound-class payload.

The contract lets Boeing begin initial production of the payload delivery units for the U.S. Navy, according to Boeing's announcement reported by the Daily Wire.

Boeing had previously invested nearly $100 million of its own money into developing the GBU-75 before this contract was awarded.

The GBU-75 builds on the existing JDAM system that the military has used for years. It keeps the same guidance system and stays compatible with aircraft already equipped to carry standard JDAMs.

What makes it different is a set of folding wings and a compact turbojet engine, extending its range well beyond that of a standard JDAM to more than 300 nautical miles.

Because the new weapon shares many of the same components as existing JDAM hardware, Boeing says it can be produced in high volume and integrated into the current fleet without major changes.

Boeing Vice President Bob Ciesla called the production contract a major milestone, saying it demonstrates the company's ability to deliver long-range precision strike capability at a significantly lower cost. Boeing has not publicly disclosed a per-unit price for the GBU-75, so that cost claim has not been independently verified.

According to Boeing, expanding production of the GBU-75 will give U.S. forces an affordable option for striking long-range and maritime targets.

The weapon recently completed its first flight test off the coast of California. During that test it sustained powered flight along a predefined profile, used military-code GPS navigation, and maintained consistent guidance all the way to its target, according to Boeing.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth responded to the contract announcement on X with the phrase "Arsenal of Freedom." The phrase has become a recurring theme in recent efforts to expand American munitions production and strengthen the defense industrial base, appearing earlier this July when the administration announced a $10 billion investment in Pennsylvania that was projected to support more than 4,000 defense industry jobs.

What's still unverified

Whether "significantly lower cost" claims from a manufacturer competing for a bigger production contract should be taken at face value is worth examining. Boeing has a direct financial interest in emphasizing affordability, and no comparative cost figures against other munitions systems have been released.

No timeline for full-rate production or total planned purchase quantities has been disclosed. The next milestone to watch is whether the Navy places a broader follow-on order once initial production units are delivered and tested.