Raytheon received $320 million to manufacture and supply 1,500 GBU-53/B StormBreaker smart bombs with a launch range of up to 110km for the F-15E Strike Eagle

Raytheon Technologies, a US company, has been awarded a contract to manufacture and supply StormBreaker smart bombs. The customer is the US Air Force.

Here's What We Know

Raytheon has been awarded $320 million to produce 1,500 smart bombs. The carriers of the munitions are the US Air Force's fourth-generation F-15E Strike Eagle fighters. The bombs provide the aircraft with unprecedented capability against stationary and moving targets regardless of conditions.

The GBU-53/B StormBreaker is a high-precision glide bomb formerly known as the Small Diameter Bomb II. Their production began in 2014. The bomb has a 48kg warhead. It can hit stationary and moving targets at ranges of up to 110km and 72km respectively.

In September 2020, the GBU-53/B StormBreaker was approved for combat use aboard the F-15E Strike Eagle. Smart bombs are now being tested on fifth-generation F-35B aircraft and F/A-18 deck fighters.

Source: Raytheon