Raytheon has completed Lot 1 production of the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) II, a new weapon that will give fighter pilots the ability to destroy moving targets at any time and in all-weather conditions.
The SDB II bomb is a gliding precision weapon with a one-of-a-kind tri-mode seeker that uses millimetre wave radar, uncooled imaging infrared guidance and semi-active laser guidance to find its targets.
The weapon’s two-way datalink allows it to receive in-flight target updates. Once fielded, SDB II will enable pilots to engage more targets at ranges greater than 40 miles using fewer aircraft.
Raytheon is producing SDB II bombs at the company’s fully-automated manufacturing facility in Tucson, Arizona, and the programme is nearing completion of developmental testing. The US Air Force has also contracted with the company to produce Lots 2 and 3.
Mike Jarrett, Raytheon Air Warfare Systems Vice President said: “SDB II does much more than hit GPS coordinates; it detects, classifies and engages targets. When it is integrated on the F-35A, this weapon will also help the world’s most advanced fighter jet reach entirely new targets.”
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