Raytheon’s Small Diameter Bomb II successfully destroyed moving targets during recent live fire tests, opening the door to low-rate initial rate production, the company announced on Feb. 16. “These tests showcased the weapon’s new multi-effects warhead that provides SDB II with the capability to destroy targets while reducing collateral damage,” said company program director John O’Brien. Air Force and industry testers completed two live-munition test drops at White Sands Missile Test Range, N. M., and plans additional test-drops as SDB II begins LRIP, according to the release. SDB II employs an enhanced three-mode millimeter-wave radar, imaging infrared, and semi-active laser seeker package to enable it to distinguish and hit moving targets from up to 46 miles. Raytheon successfully hit moving targets in a series of inert test-drops last September.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
