Raytheon SDB II Flight Test Keeps Program Ahead of Schedule

TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) completed a series of captive flight tests on the Small Diameter Bomb II tri-mode seeker, keeping the program ahead of schedule. The tests demonstrated that the company's tri-mode seeker could acquire and track moving vehicles.

"These tests are helping to keep the SDB II program on cost and ahead of schedule," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Air Warfare Systems for Raytheon Missile Systems. "With SDB II, enemies can no longer use darkness, battlefield obscurants or inclement weather to hide their troop movements."

The SDB II is the world's first weapon capable of engaging fixed or moving targets around-the-clock in adverse weather conditions from a range of greater than 40 nautical miles (approximately 46 statute miles).

"Our testing program proves uncooled tri-mode seeker technology will consistently and accurately guide its weapon to the target," said Tom White, Raytheon's SDB II program director. "Our uncooled tri-mode seeker makes Small Diameter Bomb II an effective weapon for the warfighter and an affordable weapon for the taxpayer."

During the tests, a seeker built on an active production line was mounted on a UH-1 helicopter and tracked moving targets from different distances, angles and altitudes using uncooled imaging infrared (IIR) and millimeter-wave (MMW) radar modes. The tests met all objectives and set the stage for a free-flight test in 2012.

About the Small Diameter Bomb II

SDB II's integrated tri-mode seeker fuses MMW radar, uncooled IIR and semiactive laser sensors on a single gimbal, which enables the weapon to seek and destroy targets despite weather conditions.

• SDB II uses an uncooled tri-mode seeker to hit moving targets in adverse weather conditions.
• The SDB II program is performing on cost and ahead of schedule.
• The tests met all objectives and put the program on track for a free-flight test in 2012.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2010 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 89 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter at @raytheon.

Note to Editors

The 8-day test series began Oct. 12 and was conducted using a U.S. Army UH-1 helicopter. The UH-1 provided a cost-effective means to test the uncooled tri-mode seeker in a relevant environment and accumulated more data on each mission than a fast-moving jet aircraft would have made possible.

Media Contact
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SOURCE Raytheon Company

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