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 Air Force's fiscal 2026 combat aircraft budget request goes big on the new F-47 and B-21, but only buys 45 new fighters, less than half its traditional goal. The service said it can only buy what industry can make, and the desired 72 fighters is "not...achievable."