Munitions load crews at Langley AFB, Va., recently loaded the new GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb onto an operational F-22A Raptor—marking another first for the new stealth fighter. The fit test, conducted by members of the 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and observed by Lockheed Martin and Boeing contractors, as well as Air Force test officials from Edwards AFB, Calif., was the first time the weapon had been loaded into a combat-ready Raptor. The new weapon increases the target capabilities of the F-22 by 400 percent, since the fighter will carry eight SDBs instead of two JDAMS.
While the U.S. and its allies up their efforts to build out multi-orbit, multi-constellation satellite communications that are harder for an enemy to disrupt, officials noted technical and cost challenges, particularly for the user in the field.