Raytheon Missiles & Defense personnel are espousing the benefits of the successful initial guided release of a StormBreaker smart weapon from an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
“StormBreaker is the only weapon that enables pilots to hit moving targets during bad weather or if dust and smoke are in the area,” Cristy Stagg, StormBreaker program director, said. “Super Hornet pilots will be able to use poor visibility to their advantage when StormBreaker integration is complete.”
The Super Hornet would become the second fighter jet to add the weapon, which has a unique tri-mode seeker that enables pilots to hit moving targets in adverse weather or low visibility when the program reaches initial operational capability later this year.
StormBreaker safely separated from the jet and received guidance data from the plane, enabling it to be directed to its target while in flight, officials noted in describing the testing sequence. The weapon features a tri-mode seeker using imaging infrared and millimeter wave radar in its normal mode while deploying its semi-active laser or GPS guidance to hit targets.
The F-15E Eagle is the first platform to add StormBreaker. It is also being integrated on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.