Posted on 06/22/2020 6:42:00 AM PDT by Red Badger
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:45 P.M.) – The United States tested the new smart bomb, GBU-53 StormBreaker, using one of their modern warplanes.
According to reports, the U.S. Navy’s FA-18E/F Super Hornet fighter and attack aircraft launched the GBU-53 StormBreaker all-weather bomb on a designated target.
The new bomb can be used in all weather conditions, including poor visibility, Janes Defense reported last week.
An RMD spokesperson told Janes that the U.S. Air Force determines the number of tests needed to validate the bomb, but did not specify when it would be available.
“The USAF (US Air Force) program office, in co-ordination with the USN, determine the appropriate number of tests to validate different parameters. These will be a combination of development and operational test shots of which several will be live firings.”
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the missile will change “the rules of the game.”
When aiming at a target, the bomb uses a semi-active laser and GPS. The StormBreaker has a range of more than 45 miles (72 km).
The small dimensions indicate that many of these bombs will be placed on a single American fighter, including their F-15E jets, which can carry up to 28 of these missiles.
I know a place in Seattle that would make for a great live test
Got's to hurt!
Its a game you don’t want to play.
When I read the headline that was my very first thought - for use in which country - don’t take this one off the books! PUSSY military leaders wouldn’t let him!
Only kills Communists and Liberals ?
Now if we can just develop a hypersonic missile delivery system for it.
HEHEHEHEHEHE!................
How do we know we haven’t?....................
Good point.
28 accurate bombs off of one plane. Very precise.
The thing is, that if we make war too precise do we make it more acceptable?
Perhaps the reason why Germany and Japan haven’t had a major war in 75 years was due to the “imprecision” of our war making efforts.
If it “stings” a lot to wage war—perhaps the people would not put up with it.
I have to wonder if the Russians and Chinese are so focused on “precision” in their weapons.
So F-15’s already have them? Good news.
Seattle should be a testing place for Mega Cities, Street Judges, and human and domestic pet food processing like in Judge Dredd.
Yeah sounds like they have the street judges already...I hear they carry bongs instead of nightsticks.
Seems like a no-brainer for testing outside of US territory.
CHOP it is!
Yeah, but do they make meat out of humans, dogs, and cats yet?
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45 miles? That's a real "SOW"!
OTOH, It must require a close-in FGO or OH drone to designate the target -- if it is to be used for CAS...
But, if it has a small-enough CEP and blast/shrapnel radius, that thing could be a real CAS game-changer...
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Next question: In a low SAM/AA threat environment, what's the weapon-cost tradeoff between one of those ?glide? bombs -- and a 1-second burst from a GAU-8?
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For a 28-unit/sortie loadout, what's the Mega$$$ expenditure/mission for these cuties?
(Without adequate cost/benefit comparison to existing solutions, this article sounds like a M-I-C promo to sell lots of "$$$Profitable$$$ Expendables" to a bunch of tech-happy "Fast Mover" Generals/Admirals...)
TXnMA
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