Lockheed Martin's Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) team successfully completed several significant tests during the program's Component Advanced Development (CAD) phase, becoming "first to fly" during tests in December, January and February.

Small Diameter Bomb is a precision-guided, miniature munition that will enable U.S. Air Force fighters and bombers to attack more targets with fewer planes. Lockheed Martin is engaged in a two-year competitive program to develop the design for the bomb and carriage system. Lockheed Martin's SDB program leverages expertise gained from its Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) programs.

Recent successes include four Instrumented Measurement Vehicle (IMV) unit captive carry tests on the F-15E, IMV Safety of Flight and Pre-flight Certification Tests, a warhead sled test, and fit checks on the F-15E, F/A-22, B-52, F-16, A-10, and F-117 aircraft.

"Our SDB program is focused on the Global Strike Task Force concept," said Randy Bigum, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Strike Weapons vice president. "It is being designed to provide significant operational benefit by increasing precision, standoff, and lethality for the warfighter."

In the last few months, Lockheed Martin's SDB team successfully achieved the following at Eglin, Air Force Base, Fla:

  * Executed four instrumented flight tests and collected vibration,
    acoustic, loads, pressure, and temperature environmental data in the
    F-15E SDB captive carry envelope.
  * Conducted a warhead sled test in which the Lockheed Martin SDB
    penetrated a hardened target, including warhead penetration, warhead and
    fuze survival, and fuze detonation.

Aircraft fit-check testing on the F-15E, F/A-22, B-1, A-10, F-16, B-52 and F-117 has demonstrated that the Lockheed Martin SDB physically integrates seamlessly onto the U.S. Air Force's program threshold aircraft.

The Air Force is expected later this year to select a single contractor to move into the program's System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase and later into production.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control develops, manufactures and integrates world-class air defense, fire support, strike weapon, naval munition, combat vision, anti-armor and advanced product solutions and systems for U.S. and international armed forces. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems products and services.

For information on Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, visit www.missilesandfirecontrol.com

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control