February 21, 2009: Israel is buying the new U.S. LJDAM (Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions). This is the GPS JDAM system, but with the more accurate laser guidance in addition to GPS. It's economical because the only difference between JDAM and LJDAM is the seeker.
On the down side, laser light can be blocked by rain or sand storms, but laser guidance is more accurate (hitting within a meter or two of the target, compared to ten meters for JDAM) and able to hit moving targets. Israel will use LJDAM on its F-16 and F-15 fighter-bombers. LJDAM would be an ideal weapon going after multiple moving targets (such as Hamas convoys). Since the smallest JDAM uses a 500 pound bomb (containing 280 pounds of explosive), this provides far more bang than a Hellfire (which contains about ten pounds). The laser guided Hellfire is the preferred missile for attacking individual vehicles. But with LJDAM, even a near miss will be a kill.
Last year, Germany became the first foreign buyer for LJDAM.
