The U.S. Air Force has allocated $75 million for an initial production run of Boeing’s BSU‑111/B Payload Delivery Unit, a wing‑and‑turbojet kit that converts a 500‑pound JDAM into the long‑range GBU‑75. Powered by a Kratos‑designed TDI‑J85 engine, the upgraded bomb can travel more than 300 nautical miles, giving a gravity bomb the reach of a cruise missile.
Boeing has invested nearly $100 million of its own funds to develop the system, which builds on earlier JDAM tail‑ and wing‑kits that extended range to 15 and 40 nautical miles respectively. The Navy demonstrated the JDAM LR in April, launching two variants from Super Hornets that flew roughly 200 nautical miles and performed altitude changes and maneuvering before striking targets within meters. The service highlighted the need for greater standoff distance to keep pilots safer in contested environments.
Because the kit uses existing JDAM production lines, any platform that can drop a conventional JDAM can carry the new variant without modification. The contract is an undefinitized action, so details on unit quantity, cost per bomb, or delivery schedule were not disclosed, but the first GBU‑75s are slated for Navy use.
