SDB carriage systems

has been awarded a production contract worth $26.5m (£18.5m) by

to supply BRU-61/A carriage systems for the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB).

The BRU-61/A is a pneumatic multi-store carriage system designed for carriage and release of Boeing’s SDB, which has been in service since 2006 on the F-15E.

To date Wimborne, Dorset-based Cobham has supplied more than 500 carriages in support of worldwide operations. Deliveries for the latest contract will start late this year and be complete in 2010.

According to Cobham, the carriage system provides combat aircraft with the capacity to carry four SDB precision-guided munitions on each aircraft weapon station. The carriage is capable of carrying and pneumatically ejecting SDB munitions at up to and including supersonic speeds from fighter, bomber, or unmanned aircraft.

Allan Cook, chief executive officer at Cobham, said: ‘We are very pleased to receive another order for SDB carriages following continued investment in a system that is designed to carry multiple stores and pneumatically eject munitions at supersonic speeds. We look forward to continuing the development of our relationship with Boeing and the opportunity to bring the SDB capability to the F-22A and F-35 platforms.’