The United States Navy has authorized the operational use of Raytheon's StormBreaker smart bomb on its F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters. This step concludes a long development process and allows the aircraft to attack moving targets under any weather conditions, a capability it previously lacked. With an extended range, the weapon aims to increase the lethality and survivability of the crews.
Tripartite Guidance and All-Weather Capability ⛈️
The key to the StormBreaker is its combined guidance system. It uses synthetic aperture radar for navigation and target acquisition, an infrared seeker for terminal tracking, and can receive laser designation. This data fusion allows it to identify and track moving targets, such as vehicles, in rain, fog, or smoke. Its compact size allows more units to be loaded per aircraft.
In Case Bad Weather Ruins Your Bombing Day 😏
It seems adversaries thought they could use fog or rain as a free shield. The Navy has responded with a solution that, yes, costs about 213,000 dollars per unit. Now, a pilot can launch one of these from tens of miles away without worrying about clouds. A reminder that in modern warfare, not even the weather provides cover.