The US Air Force has given Boeing a $160 million contract to produce 8,163 units that add GPS guidance to ordinary dumb bombs (Joint Direct Attack Munitions). This is the fourth production lot; the first three lots totaled just over 8,000 units. The new contract will allow Boeing to reach a production rate of 700 units per month by early 2001. During Operation Allied Force, Boeing was completing 130 kits per month, with many of them being expended within days of construction. At least 25 countries want to buy GPS bomb guidance kits, and Boeing hopes for the lion's share of these contracts.--Stephen V Cole