The StormBreaker under consideration is a smart explosive and not the Bifrost-summoning weapon designed for Marvel’s Thor. Previously known by various designations such as the Small Diameter Bоmb-II or the GBU-53/B, this particular weapon has garnered significant attention due to a noteworthy advancement attributed to the U.S. Navy.

StormBreaker is an airborne precision-guided weapon manufactured by Raytheon. It is designed to alter course during flight and pursue the target into an alternate reality. It is 204 pounds (93 kg) in weight and 105 pounds (48 kg) in warhead mass. This ensures that a greater quantity can be transported on a reduced number of aircraft compared to comparable weaponry.

The weapon’s guidance systems consist of inertial navigation, GPS, and a tri-mode seeker (a composite of an infrared camera, millimeter-wave radar, and semi-active laser). The object is capable of maintaining its intended course despite motion, adverse weather conditions, haze, or fog, and can receive mid-flight course correction instructions. It is capable of striking from a maximum distance of 40 miles (64 km).

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The development of the weapon commenced in 2006, and its operational deployment did not occur until 2022. Presently, its exclusive utilization is confined to the F-15E Strike Eagle within the U.S. Air Force. However, advancements are being made to incorporate it into the F-16C/D and F-35 as well.

The U.S. Navy announced earlier this week that it would also be utilizing the StormBreaker. It did so in October, following the declaration of Early Operational Capability (EOC) for the weapon aboard the F/A-18E/F Suρer Hornet; this aircraft is the first platform of its kind to be utilized by the Navy.

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Next year is the anticipated date of Initial Operational Capability (IOC), which denotes the point at which the Suρer Hornet warhead will attain its minimum viable deployable configuration. However, this cannot be achieved until the Navy completes two additional operational tests.

Since its production in 1999 to supplant the formidable F-14 Tomcat of Top Gu𝚗 renown, the Suρer Hornet has been in existence. The aircraft, originally manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), is propelled to Mach 1.8 velocities by two General Electric turbofan engines, each of which is capable of generating 22,000 pounds of tҺrust.

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Although this aircraft is relatively new in comparison to other aerial combat vehicles utilized by the United States military, it is nonetheless the focal point of a modernization initiative. In addition to undergoing integration with novel armament systems, the Suρer Hornets will be endowed with enhanced capabilities for electronic warfare.

Two firms are vying for the final upgrade contract, but thus far, only L3Harris, which was awarded a $80 million contract to develop the system, is known to the public. The aircraft should undergo upgrades beginning in 2026, one year after Boeing ceases production of new aircraft.