June 1, 2016 / 9:10 AM

Boeing JDAM contract nearly doubled due to 'warfighter demand'

The U.S. Air Force's $3.2 billion contract modification aims to re-top depleted bomb reserves.

A Boeing contract for Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance kits has been nearly doubled to $3.2 billion to replenish the U.S. military's depleted JDAM reserves. U.S. Navy photo

A Boeing contract for Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance kits has been nearly doubled to $3.2 billion to replenish the U.S. military's depleted JDAM reserves. U.S. Navy photo

WASHINGTON, June 1 (UPI) -- Boeing Defense Space and Security has been awarded a not-to-exceed $3.2 billion fixed-price, incentive-firm, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract modification for Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kits.

The modification alters a $1.7 billion contract awarded in October 2014, increasing the amount by $1.4 billion "due to warfighter demand and to replenish depleted inventories," the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The contract involves supplying JDAM strap-on inertial guidance kits, with the capability to receive GPS guidance updates in order to increase the accuracy of conventional inventory bombs.

The contract involves unspecified foreign military sales. Work will be completed in Missouri, with an expected completion date of September 2020. The Air Force Life Cycle Management center is the contracting activity.

JDAM is a guidance kit that converts unguided "dumb bombs" into precision-guided smart munitions. The system improves bomb accuracy in all weather conditions and is compatible with a variety of fighter jets.

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