Ross Wilkers
Raytheon is building a bomb intended for all three U.S. variants of the Lockheed Martin-made F-35 fighter jet, Raytheon said Tuesday.
The company said the GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb is designed for the Air Force‘s F-35A, Marine Corps‘ F-35B and the Navy‘s F-35C jets.
Other aircraft such as the Air Force’s F/A-22, F-15E and F-16C/D along with the Navy’s F/A-18E/F can carry the bomb as well, according to the company.
Harry Schulte, vice president of air warfare systems for Raytheon’s missile systems segment, said Raytheon intends to provide warfighters a bomb that strikes targets in adverse weather conditions and in tight spaces.
For joint Raytheon-Air Force test, the company reported a team loaded four SDB II shapes into an F-35 weapon bay alongside an air-to-air missile with the goal of evaluating clearance between the two weapons.
The team evaluated both inboard and outboard bay doors of the jet, Raytheon said.
SDB II bombs contain a data link and are designed to strike from a range of more than 46 miles, according to the company.
Raytheon said the Defense Department has invested more than $700 million in the SDB II program.
