Initially developed as aerial reconnaissance platforms, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are now being given an increasingly-potent armed capability.
To that end, US defence/aerospace firm Raytheon has developed a new weapon intended for use by UAVs, along with small conventionally-manned light aircraft and combat helicopters.
Raytheon's STM (Small Tactical Munition) phase II has been tested in the laboratory and, before the year is out, will be flight-tested. An air-launched
weapon, the SMT phase II is the smallest munition produced by Raytheon and it's a gravity-dropped bomb that's less than two feet in length and 5.4 kilograms in weight.Raytheon UAV Munition
Compared to the STM phase 1, this new Raytheon UAV munition is smaller and incorporates a retractable wing and fin design, making it compatible with standard US military weapons launching equipment.
It also boasts a unique warhead design produced by Nammo-Talley and a hi-tech semi-active laser seeker, allowing the Small Tactical Munition to carry out precision strikes on rapidly-moving non-static targets.
"STM Phase II was designed from the ground up to blend lethality and extreme precision with affordability, making it highly attractive to the warfighter", Raytheon Missile Systems Advanced Missiles and Unmanned Systems vice president, Bob Francois, said in a statement.
"STM is part of Raytheon's broad portfolio of air-launched weapons and is easy to use because it's designed for rapid integration and engineered for improved operator system interface and flexibility in load-out"
UAV Munition Flight Test
The STM phase 1 UAV munition flight test was carried out in October last year. In comparison to this initial model, the phase II is described by Raytheon as more straightforward to assemble en masse and a more affordable option.
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