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.
Media Contact
John
Patterson
+1.520.794.4559
rmspr@raytheon.com
SOURCE Raytheon Company