Reported Location
Year
Munition Category
Functional use
Tentative Model
Base Colour
Marking Colour
Condition
Mechanical Feature
Guidance
Domain
Fins Characteristic
Weight Class
2 Analyst Notes
The JDAM-ER in this photograph is affixed to an unusual pylon thought to be of Ukrainian design, which allows the Western munition to be carried by the Soviet-designed Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft in service with the Ukrainian Air Force (a MiG-29 is pictured here). (ARES)
The JDAM-ER pictured here has an additional seeker integrated into the munition’s nose. This may be connected to a U.S. Air Force requirement for home-on-GPS-jam seekers for JDAM-series guidance kits supplied to Ukraine (see External Research link). (ARES)
External Research
The Warzone
“…Ukraine’s MiG-29s and Su-27s do not have the kind of integrated GPS/INS capability and a NATO-compatible data bus that is needed for JDAM-ER. So, the fixture at the end of the pylon could be a GPS antenna that feeds key information into the bombs before they are released.”
U.S. Department of Defense
“Scientific Applications and Research Associates Inc., Cypress, California, was awarded a $23,554,341 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee, undefinitized contract for the acquisition of Home-on GPS Jam seekers. This contract provides for the integration of the extended range seekers into existing Joint Direct Attack Munition wing kits. … This contract involves Foreign Military Sales to Ukraine.”