New 12-pound Guided Bomb Flies for First Time
Raytheon completes first captive flight test of Small Tactical Munition Phase II. Paving the way for one target one air dropped weapon missions!
TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 30, 2011 Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has completed captive carry tests of its Small Tactical Munition Phase II configuration, paving the way for flight tests.
“Raytheon developed STM Phase II to provide the warfighter a weapon for Shadow-class UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) and counterinsurgency aircraft,” said Bob Francois, vice president of Advanced Missiles and Unmanned Systems for Raytheon Missile Systems. “STM is a mature, precise and affordable weapon and gives the warfighter flexibility to engage moving and static targets with minimal collateral damage.”
The Sept. 16 test was conducted on a Raytheon Cobra unmanned aircraft system at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz.
About Small Tactical Munition
STM Phase II is a new 12-pound, 22-inch long, precision-guided, gravity-dropped bomb specifically designed for employment from manned and unmanned aircraft systems. STM Phase II is more than two inches shorter than the Phase I design and has foldable fins and wings, enabling employment from the U.S. military’s common launch tube. STM Phase II’s easier assembly will make the system simpler to manufacture on a large scale.
Key Points
- At 12 pounds and 22 inches, STM is the smallest air-launched weapon in the Raytheon portfolio.
- Has both GPS and semiactive laser guidance.
- Small enough to be employed from the U.S. military’s common launch tube.
