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.
Source / Author: Raytheon
Photo: Raytheon