Overview
- NAVAIR declared Initial Operational Capability for the GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II on the Super Hornet, advancing the weapon from early operational use to fleet fielding.
- The network-enabled munition uses a tri-mode seeker—imaging infrared, millimeter-wave radar, and semi-active laser—to strike moving or fixed targets through fog, smoke, and rain with in-flight retargeting.
- Super Hornets first employed the weapon in 2025 during CENTCOM-linked strikes in Yemen, providing real-world validation before full fleet clearance.
- The joint-interest program is led by the U.S. Air Force, with SDB II already operational on the F-15E and integration underway for F-16 and F-35 variants.
- The Navy’s effort is managed by NAVAIR’s PMA-201, following integration and weapons testing that included events at NAS Patuxent River.