Primer disparo real de StormBreaker por una unidad operativa
The 391st Fighter Squadron became the first operational unit to use the GBU-53/B, the Air Force’s new small diameter bomb known as StormBreaker, Nov. 2.
Four F-15Es from the 366th Fighter Wing had the opportunity to employ this new capability
The evaluation involved multiple aircraft targeting and engaging four ground-based vehicles with four of StormBreakers. Despite all of the vehicles being moving targets and this being a relatively new munition, all four were successfully hit.
The StormBreaker measures at 69 inches long, 6-7 inches in diameter, weighs 204 pounds and carries a 105 pound warhead. By using a combination of millimeter wave active radar homing, semi-active laser guidance, infrared homing, GPS coupled inertial guidance and data-link, the bomb is proven to strike stationary targets at 69 miles and moving targets at 45 miles.
According to Capt. Kyle “Scrap” Holifield, 391st Fighter Squadron, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, the integrated connectivity of the new bomb is one of its greatest assets, allowing it to be launched and then, if needed, redirected by the aircrew toward a new target while in transit. “I love that it can get on link,”
“The new small diameter bomb provides F-15E’s with new and complimentary capabilities,” said Holifield. “It is not a replacement for other bombs.”
Because of the small size of these new munitions, the F-15E Strike Eagle can carry up to 28 GBU-53/Bs.
However, there was additional coordination and planning required to employ the new bomb. Due to increased capabilities of this munition, the bomb and the aircraft are able to communicate with each other, which requires intelligence airmen to load encrypted communication information into the bomb’s computer.
While the GBU-53/B is currently only approved for integration on the Strike Eagle, results will also support the employment of StormBreaker by joint capabilities with the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and eventually fifth generation platforms such as the F-35.
https://www.mountainhome.af.mil/News/Ar ... rmbreaker/