The United States has begun testing a smart bomb on the fifth-generation fighter-bomber F-35 Lightning II. The aircraft will receive a guided precision bomb GBU-53/B StormBreaker. This is reported by Defense Blog with reference to Raytheon.
In a press release, the company noted that the GBU-53/B StormBreaker tests on the F-35 were first conducted at the end of 2021. The tests allowed us to work out the integration of ammunition into the aircraft systems.
The bomb received an infrared homing head, a semi-active laser and a millimeter-range radar station for targeting. The GBU-53/B StormBreaker can also use an inertial guidance system and GPS.
Raytheon stressed that the new munition is capable of detecting and classifying moving targets. GBU-53/B StormBreaker can expand the capabilities of fighters in poor visibility conditions.
In June, the first phase of testing of the Golden Horde semi-autonomous precision weapons system was completed in the United States. The F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet dropped six Collaborative Small Diameter Bomb (CSDB) bombs.
In June 2020, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jet launched the GBU-53/B StormBreaker bomb for the first time. The Forbes publication noted that F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-15E Eagle aircraft will receive the new ammunition first. After that, work will begin on integrating the bomb into the arsenal of the F-35 Lightning II, which will be able to carry 24 ammunition. Bombs can be controlled within the framework of the Golden Horde program.
Daniil Irinin
