3 February, 2025
Ukrainian aviation has become the first in the world to use 1,000-pound (454 kg) Mark 83 bombs adapted for the JDAM-ER guidance kit, The Aviationist reported.
Since 2023, Ukraine has been deploying 500-pound (227 kg) JDAM-ER bombs. The newly adapted 1,000-pound bombs may have been specifically modified for the Ukrainian Air Force.
The report is based on a video published by the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, which shows a Ukrainian Su-27 dropping a pair of precision-guided bombs on Russian positions in a forested area.
Analyzing the footage, @Osinttechnical compared the size of the bombs mounted on the Su-27’s wings with known images of 500-pound bombs and determined that the new bombs are significantly larger.
Comparison of 500-pound (left) and 1,000-pound (right) bombs. Photo: @Osinttechnical
Previously, JDAM-ER kits were known to be available for 500-pound GBU-62 and 2,000-pound GBU-64 bombs.
The JDAM-ER was developed in 2006-2008. At that time, Boeing and the Australian DSTO jointly developed and tested a set of wings for the 500-pound GBU-38/B JDAM. The resulting airframe GBU-62 JDAM-ER entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 2016.
Similarly, in 2009, Boeing and South Korea’s Times Aerospace Korea (TAK) developed a JDAM-ER wing kit for the GBU-31/B JDAM bomb weighing 2,000 pounds.
At the same time, the only confirmed military use of JDAM-ER kits in the U.S. Armed Forces is to equip some Quickstrike mines. The GBU-62(V)1/B and GBU-64(V)1/B correspond to the MK 62 500-pound and MK 64 2000-pound mines equipped with the JDAM-ER, respectively.
Neither Boeing nor the U.S. military mentioned the existence of a ready-made version of the JDAM-ER kit for 1000-pound bombs.
As a reminder, in May 2024, the United States ordered sensors for Ukraine that will enable American bombs equipped with JDAM-ER systems to defeat electronic warfare systems.
Home-on GPS (HOJ SARA) Passive RF Seekers
The Home-on GPS system should allow Ukrainian JAM-ERs to target EW systems that jam GPS.
This is a positive development for Ukrainian bombs. Anything that makes butchering cockroaches and cockroach material more efficient is always good.
Another world first by the Ukrainians, to go along with the first helicopter to be destroyed from a drone boat. Ukraine are moving forward with the technology. Meanwhile, back in mafia land……….