HEAVILY ARMED B-52s Takeoff from RAF Fairford - Loaded with JDAM Bunker Busters

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5. AI Overview

The GBU-31 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) is a 2,000-pound precision-guided, all-weather air-to-surface weapon, combining a MK-84 or BLU-109 warhead with a GPS/INS-guided tail kit. It turns "dumb" bombs into smart weapons with a 15-mile range, allowing, precise, autonomous engagement from high altitudes,.
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Key Characteristics & Capabilities
Guidance: GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) provides high accuracy, with an estimated circular error probable (CEP) of 9.6 to 13 meters.
Weight & Payload: ~2,000 lbs (900+ kg). Primarily uses MK-84 (high explosive) or BLU-109 (bunker buster) warheads.
Operational Range: Up to 15 miles (24 km).
Compatibility: Utilized by most U.S. inventory fighters and bombers, including F-15E, F-16, F-35, F/A-18, B-1B, B-2, and B-52.
Deployment: First deployed in 1999, it enables simultaneous, multi-target strikes.
Cost: Approximately $21,000–$40,000 per tail kit, according to {Link: Reddit users https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1rr8b1x/gbu31_v3b_bunkerbuster_bombs_being_loaded_onto_us/ and official Air Force data.
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Operational Use
The system uses aerodynamic control surfaces on the tail to adjust flight path to the target, and if GPS signals are lost, it relies on the accurate INS. It is effective against fixed and hardened targets, especially in adverse weather conditions.
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