Previously known as the small diameter
bomb 2 SDB 21 other key characteristic
of the stormbreaker. offers the air force
some significant capabilities, being
based around a tri-mode guidance system
that allows it to find targets using
imaging infrared or millimeter wave
radar using semi-active laser homing to
hit a designated aim point. The result is
an especially flexible weapon able to
engage both stationary and moving
targets, even at night or in bad weather.
It packs an enormous punch, the
multi-effects warhead actually separates
this air to surface weapon from its
predecessor and different munitions in
its class. There's extra do-able for
stormbreaker, choices like including
propulsion or swapping out the seeker
relying on the mission. The hardware and
software program can cause a spread of
threats. It's a really versatile weapon
one of kind with world-class expertise.
The SDB II is engineered to weigh only 208
pounds, a lighter weight than most other
air drop bombs. so that eight of them can
fit on the inside of an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. if weapons are kept in an internal
weapons bay and not rested on an
external weapons pod then an aircraft
can succeed in retaining its stealth
properties because the shapes or
contours of the weapons will not be
visible to enemy radar. About 105 pound of the SDB II is an
explosive warhead which encompasses a
blast frag capability and a plasma jet
technology designed to pierce enemy
armor.
The SDB II also has the ability to
classify targets, meaning it could for
example be programmed to hit only tanks
in a convoy as opposed to other moving
vehicles. The weapon can classify tanks, boats or wheeled targets.
Stormbreaker is the only weapon that
enables pilots to hit moving targets
during bad weather or if dust and smoke
are in the area raytheon stormbreaker
program director. Super Hornet pilots
will be able to use poor visibility to
their advantage when stormbreaker
integration is complete. The weapon can
travel up to 45 miles while tracking a
mobile target. This also increases the
aircraft survivability as it will be
farther away from potential enemy air
defenses when it drops the weapon.
The air force has awarded raytheon with
a 239 million dollar contract for the
munition. although the GBU-53B is so far
only integrated on the F-15E, it's also
planned to be cleared for use by the u.s
navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet and is
expected to be an important weapon for
the F-35 Stealth Fighter. There are also plans to integrate
stormbreaker onto all three variants of
the F-35 joint strike fighter. those jets
will be able to carry these weapons
internally allowing them to employ them
while operating in the most stealthy
configuration.
The addition of
stormbreaker into the F-35s arsenal will
greatly expand the types flexibility and
lethality. Other aircraft will follow as
the weapon opens up new engagement
possibilities for everything from slow
flying drones to stealth bombers. As for the F-35 it will likely be in a
position to carry eight stormbreaker
weapons internally and aid externally offering the fifth gen plane with the
aptitude to hit transferring targets in
hostile climate addressing a variety of
threats and situations. Additional
versatility is added by the
multi-effects warhead which is supplied
with formed cost jets, fragmentation and
blast cost results and impossibility for
a delayed sensible fuse. The whole weight
of the weapon is simply over 208 pounds
with half of it being the warhead alone.
The U.S Military will declare initial
operating capability of the GBU-53B Stormbreaker on the F-35 after
operational testing concludes in 2022. The u.s air force cleared the weapon on
the F-15E Strike Eagle in 2020, making it
the first aircraft able to carry the
weapon. The air force and raytheon
dropped 14 stormbreaker smart weapons in
the 2021 weapon system evaluation
program continuing the evaluation and
tactics development to pave the way for
operational use by combat air forces.
