The fielding of the Small Diameter Bomb was no mean feat, requiring the constant coordination of military members and civilians at seven locations working on four separate capabilities—the SDB itself, an advanced display core processor, a joint mission planning system, and operational flight program software. Lt. Col. Ed Offutt, Strike Eagle team leader at Aeronautical Systems Command, says “a phenomenal amount of communication and coordination” enabled USAF to field the SDB eight weeks ahead of schedule. The program also was nearly $27 million under budget. Aircrews and maintainers at RAF Lakenheath, Britain, have been integrating the SDB on the 48th Fighter Wing F-15Es, moving toward first operational use this fall.
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.