A series of laboratory tests on the Raytheon Co. Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)II tri-mode seeker demonstrated that it exceeds anticipated performance parameters. SDB II's seeker fuses millimeter-wave radar, uncooled imaging infrared (IIR) and semiactive laser sensors on a single gimbal. The result is a powerful, integrated seeker that seamlessly shares targeting information between modes, enabling the weapon to engage fixed or moving targets around-the-clock in adverse weather conditions.
"We kept SDB II affordable by designing it to meet – not exceed – government requirements. The fact that the uncooled IIR sensor surpasses design specifications is a win for the warfighter and the taxpayer," said Harry Schulte, Vice President of Air Warfare Systems for Raytheon Missile Systems. "These tests prove there's no need to increase the cost of a tri-mode seeker by adding a cooled IIR seeker when an uncooled IIR will work just as well."