• Smart weapon that hits moving targets in some of worst conditions to be used in US Navy The system provides precision, even in limited visibility scenarios. • A new type of smart weapon that can hit moving targets in some of the worst weather conditions has been cleared for use in the U.S. • Developed by Raytheon, the StormBreaker smart weapon is a winged munition that autonomously detects and classifies moving targets in poor visibility situations caused by darkness, bad weather, smoke or dust kicked up by helicopters. • Navy has approved Raytheon’s StormBreaker smart weapon for operational use on the F/A-18-E/F Super Hornet strike fighter. • StormBreaker increases the aircraft’s lethality “The Super Hornet plays a critical role in the Navy’s air combat strategy and equipping it with StormBreaker increases the aircraft’s lethality by enabling precision strike in all weather conditions,” said Sam Deneke, president of Air & Space Defense Systems at Raytheon. • “StormBreaker’s accuracy and versatility gives operators the upper hand in the most degraded environments, ensuring they can complete the mission and return home safely.” Raytheon highlighted that in 2023, the Super Hornet became the first U.S.
Article Summaries:
- Raytheon’s StormBreaker, a winged smart munition, has received U.S. Navy approval for operational use on the F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet. The weapon autonomously detects and classifies moving targets in low‑visibility conditions such as darkness, bad weather, smoke, or dust, using a tri‑mode seeker that combines millimeter‑wave radar, imaging infrared, and semi‑active laser guidance. StormBreaker can engage fixed or mobile targets up to 45 miles away, allowing fewer aircraft to strike the same number of targets. The Navy cites the system’s precision and all‑weather capability as a boost to the Super Hornet’s lethality and crew safety.
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