Raytheon wins $49 mn USAF contract for Small Diameter Bomb II Lot 2 production

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World Aviation Defense & Security Industry News - Raytheon
 
 
Raytheon wins $49 mn USAF contract for Small Diameter Bomb II Lot 2 production
 
The US-based defense contractor Raytheon Missile Systems has been awarded a $49,210,994 fixed- for Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) Increment II Lot 2 production, the US Department of Defense announced on Sept. 8 on its website.
     
Raytheon wins 49 mn USAF contract for Small Diameter Bomb II Lot 2 production 640 001Raytheon's SSB II is designed to destroy moving targets in dust and bad weather
(Credit: Raytheon)
     
"Contractor will provide SDB II weapons and containers. Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2018. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity," the US DoD said.

Raytheon's Small Diameter Bomb II, also known as GBU-53/B, is designed to destroy moving targets in dust and bad weather. The USAF plans to use the bomb on its F-15E Strike Eagles as a no-drive zone enforcement weapon while the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines plan to use it on their versions of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.


SDB II's seeker works in three different modes to provide maximum operational flexibility: a millimeter wave radar to detect and track targets through weather, an imaging infrared for enhanced target discrimination and a semi-active laser that enables the weapon to track an airborne laser designator or one on the ground.

The SDB II can fly more than 45 miles to strike mobile targets, reducing aircrews' time in harm's way. The weapon's small size allows fewer aircraft to take out the same number of targets as previous, larger weapons that required multiple jets.

 

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