[51557] US approves mega-deal for the sale of JDAM-ER smart bombs to Ukraine

US approves mega-deal for the sale of JDAM-ER smart bombs to Ukraine

The US State Department has granted official approval for a potential sale of advanced aerial munitions to Ukraine, with a monetary value estimated at $373.6 million. According to major reports, including those from the government agency and reports cited on Reuters via the ЦАПЛІЄНКО_UKRAINE FIGHTS channel, this concerns JDAM-ER (Joint Direct Attack Munition – Extended Range) kits, which allow standard aerial bombs to be converted into precision-guided munitions with extended range.

The scope of the deal includes approximately 1,532 kits, of which 1,200 are KMU-572 models and 332 are KMU-556 models, according to details from ТСН новини. In addition to the bombs themselves, the aid package includes maintenance equipment, software, spare parts, and comprehensive logistical and technical support. Цензор.НЕТ emphasized that the American company Boeing will be the primary contractor for this project.

Reports from channels such as Батальйон «Монако» noted that the bombs, which weigh approximately 1,000 kg, are considered to have high destructive power and leave behind craters up to 5 meters deep. Радіо Свобода added that Washington emphasizes that the deal is intended to strengthen Ukraine's self-defense capabilities against current and future threats, and that it is not expected to alter the "basic military balance of power in the region."

The news received wide resonance on Ukrainian Telegram channels, including Труха⚡️Україна and Україна Online, which highlighted the tactical importance of precision weaponry with a range of over 70 km. While most sources reflected consistent support for the Ukrainian war effort, some channels used the opportunity to disparage the US administration or other international actors, using sharp rhetoric, as seen on the Український Наступ channel.