Turkey gets State Department approval for JDAM kits

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Turkey has received U.S. State Department approval for the purchase of Joint Direct Attack Munitions through the Foreign Military Sales program.

The possible sale of JDAMS, along with associated equipment, parts and logistical support has an estimated value of $70 million.

"This sale will enhance the Turkish Air Force's ability to defend and provides a capability to contribute to future NATO operations," the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in its required notification to Congress. "The proven reliability and compatibility of like-systems will foster increased interoperability between NATO and U.S. forces, and expand regional defenses to counter common threats to air, border, and shipping assets in the region."

DSCA is the Department of Defense agency that manages the FMS program.

Specifically, the sales package would comprise 1,000 JDAM kits -- 400 GBU-31(V)1 for use with Mk84 bombs, 200 GBU-31(V)3 for use with BLU-109 bombs, 300 GBU-38 for use with Mk 82 bombs, and 100 GBU-54 Laser JDAM kits for use with Mk 82 bombs.

Other items would include 200 BLU-109 Hard Target Penetrator Warheads and 1,000 FMU-152A/B fuzes.

Boeing would be the principal contractor.

JDAM is an attachable kit that turns free-fall bombs into precision weapons through the addition of an integrated inertial guidance system and Global Positioning System receiver. The kit also gives the bomb a glide distance of as much as 15 miles.

CORRECTION: The proposed sale notification posted on Oct. 30, 2015 named Raytheon as principal contractor, as did a previous version of this story. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency issued a correction on Dec. 7, 2015 naming the Boeing Company as principal contractor.