Raytheon tests new UAV weapon in Arizona

摘要

Raytheon is pressing ahead with unmanned air vehicle weaponisation, having success-fully flight-tested its small tactical munition (STM) at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona recently. The 0.6m (2ft)-long, 5.9kg (13lb) bomb - the smallest in the company's extensive weapons complement — was specifically designed for UAV use. Its dual-mode, semi-active laser seeker and GPS/inertial navigation sys-tem enable it to engage fixed and moving targets in all weather con-ditions, Raytheon says.The small tactical munition is based largely on the Griffin mis-sile, a 84cm (33in), 19kg motor-ised weapon developed by the company two years ago.