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The Israel air force plans to spend about US $100 million
to replenish stocks of precision guided weapons used during
the month long conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. This procurement
will exercise options to buy JDAM weapon under a 2004 contract
for the procurement of up to 5,000 Joint
Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) of different types.
In the past, the IAF used JDAM kits with locally used 2,000
pound warheads, including MK-84 (200 pound), BLU-109 penetration
warheads, MK-83 1000 pound and MK-82 500 pound bombs. The IAF
was the first international customer to receive JDAMs in the
year 2000. Since then, 12 additional international customers
have purchased JDAM. As a result of heavy usage during Operation
Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), production numbers were extensively
increased. As of January 2006, Boeing has delivered more than
145,000 JDAM tail kits. In 2006 Boeing produced 3,000 JDAMs
every month, responding to requirements of about 230,000 JDAM
kits in several configurations to fit the various warheads.
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