The U.S. Navy completed two demonstration flights of the Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range (JDAM LR) in early April, with both launches traveling 200 nautical miles to their targets off California, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced April 20.
F/A-18E/F Super Hornets assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31), the “Dust Devils,” conducted the flights at the Point Mugu Sea Range. The April 1 test landed within meters of the planned impact point after a 34-minute powered flight. The April 3 flight executed an advanced profile with altitude changes and maneuvering.
A Navy F/A-18 carries the new Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Long Range (LR) variant during a test event in early April off the coast of California (U.S. Navy photo/released) pic.twitter.com/ZL9cMqXcwJ
— SeaWaves Magazine (@seawaves_mag) April 20, 2026
“As Naval Air Forces in theater continue to rely heavily on JDAM systems, the program recognizes a critical need to provide the fleet with greater standoff range,” said Capt. Sarah Abbott, the Precision Strike Weapons (PMA-201) program manager.
A New Era for Precision Strike: JDAM LR Completes Milestone Test Flights
The U.S. Navy has successfully demonstrated the new JDAM Long Range variant, marking a huge step in bringing affordable, long-range standoff capabilities to the Carrier Air Wing.https://t.co/GvMomaPnSp pic.twitter.com/cNgEgnZGXy
— NAVAIR (@NAVAIRNews) April 20, 2026
The weapon carries the newly assigned military designation GBU-75, a step The War Zone reported suggests a Pentagon procurement order has already been placed or is otherwise anticipated.
The designation arrives as Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran launched February 28, draws down high-end cruise missile stocks.
The Center for a New American Security described the conflict as “a military success funded by strategic risk,” warning that standoff munitions needed for a Pacific contingency continue to fall.
Boeing states the weapon’s maximum range at more than 300 nautical miles, more than triple the unpowered JDAM Extended Range (JDAM-ER).
🇺🇸 Boeing’s Powered JDAM finally has a customer.
NAVAIR announces that they have conducted 2 flight tests of “JDAM-Long Range” earlier this month, with the munition travelling ~370km.
Boeing had previously advertised a max range of +555km.pic.twitter.com/JID8Sfln8t
— Colby Badhwar (@ColbyBadhwar) April 20, 2026
A decoy configuration that replaces the Mk 82 warhead with a fuel tank extends that figure beyond 700 nautical miles, according to Boeing.
“This weapon brings the cruise missile concept to the JDAM family at a lower cost, enabling large production quantities,” said Bob Ciesla, Boeing’s vice president for Precision Engagement Systems.
NAVAIR said the program will now focus on shipboard integration as its next qualification step.
