StormBreaker Glide Bomb:
US fighter jets appear to be using advanced “StormBreaker” precision glide bombs in combat against the Houthis, part of the intense bombing campaign against the Iran-backed rebels.
- The Stormbreaker, designated as the GBU-53/B and also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB-II), is an American air-launched, precision-guided glide bomb developed by Raytheon.
- It is designed for all-weather precision strikes against both stationary and moving targets.
- The weapon weighs 93 kg, measures 1.76 meters in length, and has a diameter ranging from 15 to 18 cm.
- It features a multi-mode guidance system that combines millimeter-wave radar, uncooled infrared imaging, and a digital semi-active laser.
- Its GPS/INS navigation system allows for real-time in-flight target updates, enhancing adaptability to evolving mission requirements.
- It incorporates TacNet Data Link (DL) technology, enabling weapon-to-weapon collaboration.
- This system facilitates Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) to identify and engage tracked or wheeled vehicles.
- It features a multi-effects warhead that enhances lethality against a range of targets.
- The weapon, which combines blast, fragmentation, and shaped charge modes, guarantees decisive outcomes with each attack, efficiently eliminating threats on the battlefield.
- It can strike moving targets at a range of 45 miles and stationary targets at a maximum range of 69 miles.
