Raytheon low-rate production of SDB II bomb looms closer

WASHINGTON, May 18 (UPI) -- Raytheon's Small Diameter Bomb II is ready to enter low-rate initial production following a Milestone C briefing by the company and the U.S. Air Force.

An SDB II weighs just 250 pounds. With a trimode seeker -- millimeter-wave radar, uncooled imaging infrared and semi-active laser -- the bomb can strike mobile and stationary targets at a standoff distance in any weather condition.

Equipped with a data link, the target of the weapon can be changed after its release from an aircraft.

"The Milestone C decision enables us to begin putting this game-changing capability into the warfighters' hands," said Col Kevin Hickman, USAF SDB II program manager. "The ability to strike moving targets with extreme precision in adverse weather reduces an aircrew's time in harm's way and limits collateral damage in the battlespace."

Raytheon said the Milestone C achievement follows a successful functional configuration audit, production readiness review and system verification review with the Air Force and will lead to a positive acquisition decision memorandum.

Achieving Milestone C marks the hard work of the U.S. government and Raytheon teams to verify that we meet or exceed the requirements necessary for a Lot 1 production decision," said Jim Sweetman, SDB II program director for Raytheon Missile Systems. "SDB II's unique capabilities help ensure that our warfighters maintain their unfair advantage in the fight."

The Air Force has invested more than $700 million in the SDB II program, the company said.