Raytheon Company has completed Lot 1 production of the Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II), a new weapon that will give fighter pilots the ability to destroy moving targets at any time and in all-weather conditions. The U.S. Air Force has also contracted with Raytheon to produce Lots 2 and 3.

The SDB II™ bomb is a gliding precision weapon with a one-of-a-kind tri-mode seeker that uses millimeter wave radar, uncooled imaging infrared guidance and semi-active laser guidance to find its targets. The weapon's two-way datalink allows it to receive in-flight target updates. Once fielded, SDB II will enable pilots to engage more targets at ranges greater than 40 miles using fewer aircraft.

“SDB II does much more than hit GPS coordinates; it detects, classifies and engages targets. When it is integrated on the F-35A, this weapon will also help the world’s most advanced fighter jet reach entirely new targets,” said Mike Jarrett, Raytheon Air Warfare Systems Vice President.

Raytheon is producing SDB II bombs at the company’s fully-automated manufacturing facility in Tucson, Arizona, and the program is nearing completion of developmental testing.

Raytheon Company, with 2016 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions.

With a history of innovation spanning 95 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I™ products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. 

Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.