The U.S. Air Force recently
selected Boeing for a contract worth approximately $188 million
for the continued development of the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB).
Upon completion of design and development, the program is estimated
to generate $2.5 billion in sales.
The SDB is a 250-pound class near precision-guided weapon launched
from a fighter, bomber or unmanned aircraft that will destroy
targets from a range of greater than 40 miles and penetrate more
than 3 feet of steel-reinforced concrete.
Boeing will build an estimated 24,000 weapons and 2,000 carriages
over the next ten years at its production facility in St. Charles,
Mo., with the first delivery scheduled in October 2005. The SDB
will be fielded on the F-15E and subsequently on the F/A-22, F-35
(Joint Strike Fighter), Joint Unmanned Combat Air System, and
almost all other weapons platforms.
“Aircrews must have an all-weather near precision weapon
available that can destroy a wide range of targets with lethality
while minimizing collateral damage,” said George Muellner,
senior vice president and general manager, Air Force Systems,
for Boeing. “SDB is that weapon and our talented team is
committed to delivering it.”
The SDB size, a compact 71 inches long and 7.5 inches wide, allows
for an increased weapons load on each aircraft. Carriages designed
by Boeing hold four SDBs (internally or externally) and quadruple
the number of possible targets destroyed per combat sortie.
“We’re very proud of this weapon and our selection
by the U.S. Air Force. Our win is the direct result of a magnificent
team,” said Dan Jaspering, SDB program manager for Boeing.
That team includes MBDA Missile Systems, Intercontinental Manufacturing
Company, HR Textron, Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, Harris Corporation,
BAE Systems, Sargent Fletcher, KDI Precision Products, Engineered
Plastic Designs, and SRI International.
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