December
1, 2006: The U.S. Air Force has ordered another 12,889 Joint Direct Attack
Munition (JDAM) tail kits. Each will cost about $23,000. These kits are
attached to 500, 1,000 or 2,000 pound unguided bombs, to turn them into "smart
bombs." The tail kits contain the fins, electric motors to move the fins,
batteries to run the motors, GPS and inertial guidance systems to let the
guidance computer know where the bomb is in relation to the assigned target. In
the last eight years, the air force and navy have received over JDAM 150,000
tail kits. This new order will be delivered in 2008 and 2009.
