Article Posted on : - Dec 01, 2011

The Small Tactical Munition. A Raytheon photo

TUCSON (BNS): Raytheon has completed captive carry trials for its Small Tactical Munition (STM) phase II configuration.

The test was conducted on a Cobra unmanned aircraft system at Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona on September 16, the company said.

The STM phase II is a new 12-pound (5.4 kg), 21.5-inch long, precision-guided, gravity-dropped bomb specifically designed to equip unmanned aircraft, rotary-wing scout platforms and light attack aircraft.

It is the smallest air-launched weapon Raytheon has developed.

STM phase II is more than two inches shorter than the phase I design and has foldable fins and wings, enabling employment from the US military's common launch tube.

The weapon incorporates a new, purpose-built warhead. Its light weight and high degree of maneuverability, coupled with its advanced semi-active laser seeker, enables STM to precisely engage moving targets.

With the latest test, the STM phase II inches close to flight trials, Raytheon said.