Smart ammunition developers Raytheon Technologies Corp. (RTX) produces new radar and infrared guided air-to-surface missiles for the US Air Force. The StormBreaker missile’s radar and infrared guidance will help direct munitions to moving targets in darkness, rain, fog, smog or dusty weather.

Like the GPS-guided GBU-39 SDB I already installed on the F-35 attack aircraft, the 208-pound StormBreaker is six to seven inches in diameter. At this size, eight StormBreaker ammunition can fit into the F-35’s internal weapons bays. Approximately 16 more ammunition can be placed on the wings of the F-35 fighter jet.

Intellectual Guidance munitions use active millimeter-range radar guidance, semi-active laser guidance, infrared guidance with uncooled infrared cameras, inertial guidance with GPS communications, and radio data links back to the aircraft.

Millimeter-range radar detects and tracks targets depending on the weather; Infrared imaging provides advanced target recognition, allowing the semi-active laser to track the weapon’s laser designator on the aircraft or on the ground.

Tri-mode target acquisition systems share targeting information between three modes to engage stationary or moving targets at any time and in any weather conditions. The weapon can also fly more than 45 miles and attack moving targets.

StormBreaker can launch F-35 jets as well as the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet carrier-based fighter-bombers. It was also officially approved for service on the Air Force F-15E fighter-bomber. Source