Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

Does anyone know the status of the SDB-II competition? Has the contract been awarded?

Rocky

F-16.net Sponsor

Boeing and Raytheon have submitted bids. Contract due to be awarded in May 2010.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... tract.html

What exactly is the difference between the SDB, the FLM, and the SDB-II?

SBD: Mini-JDAM.
SBD II: adds a tri-mode seeker and wing kit (like the MBDA Diamond Back kit for current JDAMs) giving it extended range compared to traditional free fall bombs.
FLM: Composite case SBD with focused blast explosives. Its designed to reduce shrapnel and focus the blast down instead of out.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the GBU-39 SDB already had some nature of wings, or is that incorrect?

I'm sorry, bjr1028, but your facts aren't quite correct. The SDB (not SBD) is NOT a mini-JDAM at all. It is a completely new "bomb", really an unpowered missile, whose wings, GPS receiver, explosives, casing etc. are all part of a single, unitary package. Nothing bolted on as with the JDAM. It was never originally an unguided bomb with a guidance package strapped on. The SDBII adds a tri-mode seeker only. The "wing kit" (not really a kit as it is an integral part of the "bomb") is part of the original, plain-vanilla SDB. You are basically correct about the FLM.

Well, I'm not sure any of you got that 100% correct. The SDB I is either a GBU-39A/B or a GBU-39/B. The GBU-39A/B is a Focused Lethality Munition (FLM) meaning instead of a steel warhead as in the GBU-39/B it has a composite case filled with a Multi-Phase Blast Explosice (MBX) and is used for collateral sensative targets vs the GBU-39/B which can be used against things where your not worried about collateral damage.

The SDB II GBU-40/42 version is supposed to have the ability to loiter and should be able to hit mobile or movable targets in all weather. Its supposed to be equiped with a Lockheed Martin's tri-mode seeker which features a radio-frequency mode that can function out to 10 km, an imaging infra-red mode that sees out to about 5km and then a laser-guidance mode, a Harris data link, and two-way communication . The weapon receives in-flight target updates using a tactical radio communications system, which are then processed by the seeker. Using the updates, the seeker should be able to search, detect, track, classify and destroy a target.

ViperDude

Any more information on this competition? This is an interesting program as it seems to be the first in a series of competitive development trials / bids.

Rocky

Funding issue; OIPT and MS B DAB postponed, contract award delayed--late summer at best

Aviation Week reported contract award delayed for unspecified reasons, stated Contract award in August....

Rocky

Good Av [Link pending approval] scheduling activities betting on successful $ issue resolution in Pentagon in July

So is this SDB II in loiter mode going to resemble the old BAT program?

no [Link pending approval] stand-off [Link pending approval]

Who woulda thunk it.....

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:84399b13-bd42-492e-8f48-0b1fd0f449f3

Lots of interesting information here - check out the videos.

http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/sdbii/