U.S. approves military sale to Ukraine for Joint Direct Attack Munitions – Extended Range

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine of Joint Direct Attack Munitions – Extended Range and related support, an estimated package worth $373.6 million, the department said.

Ukraine requested 1,200 KMU-572 JDAM tail kits and 332 KMU-556 JDAM tail kits. The proposed deal also includes non-MDE items such as FMU-139 fuze systems; JDAM support equipment; spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories; repair-and-return support; weapons software and support equipment; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; transportation support; studies and surveys; as well as U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics assistance.

The department said the sale would support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of a partner “that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.” It added the package would improve Ukraine’s ability to meet current and future threats by better equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust air defense capability, and that Kyiv would have no difficulty absorbing the matériel and services. The sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” the statement said.

JDAM kits convert unguided bombs into GPS-guided weapons; the extended-range variant adds a wing kit to increase stand-off distance. The principal contractor for the proposed sale is Boeing Company, based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Under the Foreign Military Sales process, Congress is notified of potential transactions and may review them before they proceed. Quantities and dollar values can be refined during final negotiations.