WASHINGTON, May 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) 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," said Col Kevin Hickman, USAF SDB II program manager. "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."

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," said Jim Sweetman, SDB II program director for Raytheon Missile Systems. "SDB II's unique capabilities help ensure that our warfighters maintain their unfair advantage in the fight."

About SDB II
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.

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2014 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 93 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 cyber security and a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @raytheon.

Media Contact
Ashley Mehl
+1.520.794.5142
rmspr@raytheon.com

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SOURCE Raytheon Company