Defence Trials

JDAM Extended Range Trials

An F/A-18 aircraft operated by ARDU provided support in June 2004 for a concept technology demonstration program involving the release of a Boeing GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). The JDAM was fitted with an Extended Range kit comprising a DSTO designed Kerkanya wing assembly manufactured under licence by Hawker de Havilland. The wing kit dramatically increases the range compared with a conventional GPS-guided JDAM, allowing greater stand-off release distances.

The JDAM-ER trials were undertaken as part of project AIR 5425 and required a large cleared range area to allow weapon release without a flight termination system.