StormBreaker is ready for action
USAF Air Combat Command gives green light for F-15E Strike Eagles to carry the weapon
F-15E Strike Eagle multirole fighters are set to carry the compact GBU-53/B StormBreaker precision-guided glide bomb, after the weapon was approved for use by the USAF Air Combat Command.
Paul Ferraro, VP of the Air Power business in Raytheon Missiles & Defense, claimed in a 13 October statement that StormBreaker ‘delivers an unprecedented capability’ with its ability to strike maritime or land-based mobile targets at about 65km range in poor weather conditions.
StormBreaker includes a tri-mode seeker that uses imaging IR and millimetre-wave radar in its normal mode. The weapon can also deploy a semi-active laser with GPS and INS guidance to hit targets.
‘With its multimode seeker and datalink, StormBreaker will make adverse weather irrelevant,’ said Cristy Stagg, programme director at Raytheon.
The weapon will next be fielded on USN F/A-18E/F Super Hornets following guided release tests earlier in 2020, and it will also be installed on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![General Atomics’ MQ-9B passes full-scale second lifetime fatigue test]()
General Atomics’ MQ-9B passes full-scale second lifetime fatigue test
The MQ-9B is General Atomics' most advanced remotely piloted aircraft. The fatigue test was the second of three lifetimes of testing for the aircraft, the equivalent of 80,000 hours.
-
![AUSA 2024: Leonardo unveils BriteStorm stand-in jammer payload]()
AUSA 2024: Leonardo unveils BriteStorm stand-in jammer payload
Leonardo’s BriteStorm payload has been designed to be flown forward of aircraft to deceive ground forces.
-
![‘Never done before’: tiltrotor technology and the future battlespace]()
‘Never done before’: tiltrotor technology and the future battlespace
In conversation... Bell's Frank Lazzara talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about the potential of tiltrotor designs to revolutionize U.S. Army maneuver operations, and how the technology could transform other mission sets across DoD and international armed services.
-
![Italy looks to advance development of airborne electronic warfare initiatives]()
Italy looks to advance development of airborne electronic warfare initiatives
Italy’s ELT Group involvement in airborne electronic warfare initiatives, including developing systems for the Eurofighter Typhoon and future sixth-generation combat aircraft, has been focused on integrated sensing, non-kinetic effects and communications.
