Small Diameter Bomb II glides toward Milestone C

TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and the U.S. Air Force completed three successful Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) Guided Test Vehicle (GTV) flights against stationary and moving targets, resulting in direct hits. The flight tests are the last GTVs required prior to Milestone C and the start of low-rate initial production.

"These guided tests were successfully accomplished against separate targets in both moving and static scenarios that included both wheeled and tracked vehicles," said John O'Brien, Raytheon SDB II program director. "The ability to classify targets and make targeting decisions based on that classification is a revolutionary capability possessed by no other weapon or seeker today."

During the test, SDB II's tri-mode seeker used sensor data to determine whether the vehicle was wheeled or tracked, aiding in target identification and prioritization. Upcoming live-fire shots will further demonstrate the end-to-end capability of SDB II and its readiness to enter production.

"SDB II will bring game-changing capability to the warfighter," said O'Brien. "The government and industry team looks forward to the upcoming Milestone C decision, so we can transition SDB II into production and deliver it to the warfighters who need it."

Two live fire tests are scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks, which will utilize live warheads and fuzes on the SDB II against tactically representative targets.

About SDB II
SDB II employs Raytheon's unprecedented tri-mode seeker. The new seeker operates in three modes: millimeter-wave radar, uncooled imaging infrared and semi-active laser. These three modes enable the weapon to seek and destroy targets, even in adverse weather conditions from standoff ranges. 

SDB II can strike targets from a range of more than 40 nautical miles, with a dynamic warhead that can destroy both soft and armored targets, while keeping collateral damage to a minimum through a small explosive footprint. The highly accurate SDB II offers warfighters the flexibility to change targets after release through a secure datalink that passes in-flight updates to the weapon.

The DOD has validated SDB II as a weapon that meets a critical warfighter need and has invested more than $700 million in the SDB II program.

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2013 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 92 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as cyber security and a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

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SOURCE Raytheon Company