New long-range smart weapon flies hundreds of miles in first test

**The first JDAM LR cruises above the U.S. Navy’s Point Mugu Sea Range, California, on April 1, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo)**

From Chris Bishop at Lockheed Martin, April 20, 2026

Boeing, U.S. Navy complete initial flight tests of the JDAM LR, validating powered flight and long-range capability.

Boeing and U.S. Navy teammates completed a series of flight tests last week for the GBU-75 Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range (JDAM LR) at the Navy’s Point Mugu Sea Range, California.

JDAM is a low-cost guidance kit that converts existing free-fall bombs into accurately guided smart weapons. JDAM LR adds long-range capability and is the newest in the JDAM family of systems.

Why it matters: The tests validated the weapon’s ability to operate from an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter and sustain powered flight of a 500-pound (230-kilogram) JDAM.

Military Code GPS navigation systems on JDAM LR tracked satellites for the entire test, improving the weapon’s resilience and accuracy against GPS jamming and spoofing.

How they did it: An F/A-18E Super Hornet from China Lake Naval Weapons Station flew to Point Mugu and released an inert JDAM LR.

The first test, on April 1, demonstrated safe separation, engine start, cruise and guidance through terminal flight and impact in water after a 34-minute flight. The weapon sustained powered flight for nearly 200 nautical miles and landed within meters of its planned target.

For the next test, on April 3, teams flew a second planned flight profile, successfully incorporating altitude changes and weapon maneuvering during an otherwise similar flight.