Raytheon, USAF test small diameter bomb II system

LONDON, July 11 (UPI) -- Raytheon and the U.S. Air Force are beginning to flight test the Small Diameter Bomb II, or SDB II, in coordinate attack and laser illuminated attack modes, the company said Monday.

The SDB II features an advanced tri-mode seeker, enabling the weapon to use uncooled imaging infrared, millimeter-wave radar and semi-active laser guidance to find battlefield targets, Raytheon said in a statement.

In the coordinate attack mode, SDB II employs its onboard GPS system to attack fixed targets from close positions and from standoff ranges of greater than 40 miles.

SDB II uses its semi-active track laser to track and eliminate targets in the laser mode.

The latest tests verify the weapon system's maturity, Raytheon said, and the program is progressing toward the next phase of government confidence and operational testing.

Raytheon and the Air Force are continuing to refine the normal attack capability by conducting flight tests against fixed and moving targets in a mode that uses imaging infrared and millimeter wave seeker modes and classifieds targets as wheeled, tracked or boat.

Testing will continue this summer.

SDB II can destroy soft and armored targets with a small explosive footprint.