LONDON, July 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company
(NYSE: RTN), the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Air Force have begun Small
Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) integration activities on the F-35,
F/A-18E/F, and F-16 aircrafts. Preliminary SDB II fit checks and
pit tests have been completed on the F-35, supporting the Joint
Strike Fighter's ability to carry eight SDB IIs
internally.
Following a successful fit check on the F/A-18E/F, initial
planning has also started for SDB II integration on the Super
Hornet. A series of F-16 test flights utilizing SDB II Instrumented
Measurement Vehicles (IMV) were also recently completed. Each of
these efforts represents the start of integration activities for
those respective platforms.
SDB II integration on the F-15E has been under way since 2010,
with several successful flight tests demonstrating the weapon's
ability to hit both moving and stationary targets.
"Beginning the integration efforts on different aircraft is an
important first step in bringing SDB II's capabilities to other
front line fighters," said John
O'Brien, Raytheon SDB II program director. "With the start
of low-rate initial production right around the corner, SDB II will
soon be in the hands of our warfighters and making a difference on
the battlefield."
Raytheon and the U.S. Air Force are completing a series of
flight tests that will move the SDB II program closer to Milestone
C, the gateway to begin low-rate production.
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 through a
secure datalink that passes in-flight updates to the weapon.
"SDB II integration on multiple platforms will allow more
warfighters to take advantage of the tri-mode seeker's
game-changing capability to acquire, track, engage and destroy both
stationary and moving targets in adverse weather," said
Mike Jarrett, Raytheon Air Warfare
Systems Vice President. "Upcoming flight tests and live fire shots
will further demonstrate the end-to-end capability of SDB II."
About SDB II
SDB II employs Raytheon's uncooled
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.
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.
Media Contact
Farnborough
John B. Patterson
+1.520.794.4559
Tucson
Ashley Mehl
+1.520.794.5142
rmspr@raytheon.com
SOURCE Raytheon Company