Raytheon announced Wednesday that it has completed a series of captive-carry flight tests of the bomb design that it is offering to the Air Force in the small diameter bomb increment II competition. The company said these tests, which took place at Eglin AFB, Fla., using both an Air Force F-15E and an Army UH-1 helicopter as test platforms, showed that the bomb’s form-factored, tri-mode seeker is “ready for guided test shots.” Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon’s air warfare systems’ product line, said the company has now proved “the technical readiness of a superior and affordable solution.” Using the UH-1 allowed engineers to thoroughly evaluate the bomb’s terminal approach to targets, something that is not practical with fighter aircraft test platforms, the company said. Raytheon is vying against a Lockheed Martin-Boeing team to win the rights to supply SDB II, which the Air Force wants to field around 2014. SDB II is being designed to engage moving targets in all weather conditions as well as stationary objects.
US Space Command Should Always Be Led by a Guardian
Sept. 12, 2026
General Stephen Whiting took command of U.S. Space Command in January 2024, and if customary three-year tenures hold, his tour would end in January 2027. The question now before the President and Senate is who should follow him? Whoever they choose, it has to be a Guardian—and so should every successor…
