New 12-pound Guided Bomb Flies for First Time

TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/

Raytheon Company 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.