After yearlong delay, the US Air Force is ready to field Raytheon’s new smart bomb

[rangerrebew]

After yearlong delay, the US Air Force is ready to field Raytheon’s new smart bomb
By: Valerie Insinna  
 

WASHINGTON — After about a yearlong delay, the U.S. Air Force has begun fielding the Small Diameter Bomb II, a new Raytheon-produced smart weapon approved for use on the F-15E Strike Eagle jet, the service confirmed Oct. 13.

The decision, made by Air Combat Command on Sept. 23, paves the way for integration with the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jet later this year. Following that milestone, the weapon will be fielded on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

“The SDB II StormBreaker is ready for operational use after undergoing extensive development and flight testing,” Col. Jason Rusco, the Air Force’s SDB II program manager, said in an Air Force statement. “The fielding milestone is the culmination of years of incredible work conducted by our joint military and industry teams. This capability is unmatched and is a game-changer for national defense.”


https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/10/14/after-a-yearlong-delay-the-air-force-is-finally-ready-to-begin-fielding-raytheons-new-smart-bomb/