US Marine Corps, KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan: When a Harrier released the Joint Direct Attack Munition onto Tori Island March 21, it was the first time ever the Marines have deployed the system in the Pacific area of operations.
The launch of the ordnance marked the beginning of III Marine Expeditionary Force having the ability to deploy the JDAM from AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18 Hornets when needed.
The JDAM is a kit that attaches to ordnance and uses the global positioning system, combined with satellite technology, to hit targets with pinpoint accuracy. The JDAM has the capability to take conventional free-fall ordnance and turn it into precision guided munitions.
Although the JDAM has been employed during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, Marine Attack Squadron 214 became the first Harrier squadron to be outfitted with the JDAM in September 2005. Now attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), they became the first forward deployed Harriers to use the JDAM. The unit employed the JDAM, which was attached to a 1,000 pound guided bomb unit, on Tori Island off the coast of Okinawa and hit its target within three meters, according to Capt. Antonio DeMarco, assistant operations officer for the Harrier Detachment.
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