Australia hands over JDAM-ER bombs to Ukraine - media
Australia has handed over several Joint Direct Attack Munition Extended-Range (JDAM-ER) cruise missiles to Ukraine. They were decommissioned by the Australian Air Force in 2021.
This is reported by Australian Defence Magazine with reference to the Australian Defense Department, Censor.NET reports.
It is noted that Australia decommissioned the Australian-made Mk.82 500lb JDAM-ER munitions in 2021 along with the decommissioning of the F/A-18A/B Classic Hornet fighter fleet.
The publication confirmed that at least some of these bombs were later transferred to Ukraine. However, it does not report when the bombs were delivered to Ukraine.
The ADM writes that the first known use of JDAM-ER in Ukraine was on a MiG-29 of the Ukrainian Air Force in March 2023, but that the weapon was supplied by the United States. It was only in April 2024 that Australia confirmed that it had supplied unspecified air-to-ground munitions to Ukraine.
In July of this year, the Australian Department of Defense announced a further transfer of unspecified air-to-ground weapons as part of a package worth $250 million.
In mid-October, the Australian government announced the transfer of 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine with a total value of about AUD245 million ($164 million).
