Ukrainian Air Force Command has published a photo showing a JDAM-ER guided glide bomb under the wing of a Su-27 fighter aircraft, being signed by the UAF Commander Mykola Oleshchuk, celebrating Independence Day in Ukraine.
This one photo reveals the hardships faced by engineers to integrate the American weapon into the arsenal of a USSR-made fighter.
Read more: How Ukrainian Aircraft Was Adapted to Fire JDAM-Enhanced Bombs and How They Use It
The thing is, "to integrate a precision-guided weapon" means to complete many more tasks than simply finding a way to attach the bomb. Although, even making the hardpoint probably was quite a tricky problem as well.
Moreover, in the particular case of JDAM-ER, it might have taken even more effort than making things work with AGM-88 HARM. Back then, it became possible because the LAU-118/A pylon was applied – a standard hardpoint for Western aircraft. It was planted on top of the pylon of Soviet design.
Incidentally, the Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missile was integrated by using the ready-made pylons stripped off decommissioned Tornado attack aircraft.
However, when it came to JDAM-ER, engineers had to make a more complex device. The bomb itself is grabbed by an ejector rack. From the looks, it seems to be the MAU-50, designed for A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. The rack can hold a bomb of up to 2,000 lb (907 kg), so it's sufficient to take a 500-lb JDAM-ER.
A similar alternative is the MAU-12 for F-15/F-16 jets, it can hold up to 5,000 lb.
But the most important part is that this rack is implanted into another adapter device that Defense Express could not identify. On Western aircraft, the rack is installed into the hardpoint directly and hides inside the wing completely.
On the contrary, the adapter used on Su-27 is half-open and has a leading edge. No such device could be found in use with American aircraft.
For that reason, we can assume that the integration of JDAM-ER required the specialists to create this unique adapter. On top of that, to make it on short notice, carry out the tests and produce it in numbers to enable the aircraft to use the new weapon against the russian forces.
Read more: The First Video of a Ukrainian Tactical Bomber With a SCALP-EG Missile Under Its Wing Has Appeared
