Raytheon Company and the U.S. Air Force successfully completed the Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) Milestone C decision briefing, paving the way for the program to enter low rate initial production.

Unlike standard bombs, SDB II employs Raytheon's revolutionary tri-mode seeker that operates in three different modes:

• Millimeter-wave radar
• Uncooled imaging infrared
• Semi-active laser.

SDB II can strike targets from a range of more than 40 nautical miles, with a dynamic warhead that can destroy both soft and hard targets. The bomb can also change targets in-flight through the use of a secure datalink.

“The Milestone C decision enables us to begin putting this game-changing capability into the warfighters' hands. The ability to strike moving targets with extreme precision in adverse weather reduces an aircrew's time in harm's way and limits collateral damage in the battlespace,” said Col Kevin Hickman, USAF SDB II Program Manager.

The Milestone C achievement follows a successful functional configuration audit, production readiness review and system verification review. Milestone C will lead to a positive acquisition decision memorandum validating the preparedness of the company and the weapon system to continue to production.

“Achieving Milestone C marks the hard work of the U.S. government and Raytheon teams to verify that we meet or exceed the requirements necessary for a Lot 1 production decision. SDB II's unique capabilities help ensure that our warfighters maintain their unfair advantage in the fight,” said Jim Sweetman, SDB II Program Director for Raytheon Missile Systems.

SDB II employs Raytheon's unprecedented tri-mode seeker. The new seeker operates in multi-attack modes: millimeter-wave radar, uncooled imaging infrared and semi-active laser. These sensors enable the weapon to seek and destroy targets, both moving and stationary, even in adverse weather conditions from standoff ranges. 

SDB II can strike targets from a range of more than 40 nautical miles, with a dynamic warhead that can destroy both soft and armored targets, while keeping collateral damage to a minimum through a small explosive footprint. The highly accurate SDB II offers warfighters the flexibility to change targets after release through a secure datalink that passes in-flight updates to the weapon.

The Department of Defense has validated SDB II as a weapon that meets a critical warfighter need and has invested more than $700 million in the SDB II program.