WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. defense giant Raytheon is seeking to integrate its Small Tactical Munition onto a wide variety of light-attack aircraft.
The company said the STM is a new 12-pound, 22-inch-long, precision-guided, gravity-dropped weapon. Although initially designed for use by unmanned aircraft systems, STM's size makes it uniquely applicable to manned systems as well.
STM is the smallest air-launched weapon in Raytheon's portfolio.
"STM's small size enables the warfighter to carry dozens of STMs on a multitude of light attack aircraft," said Bob Francois, vice president of Advanced Missiles and Unmanned Systems for Raytheon Missile Systems.
"Instead of using an expensive system to destroy a target such as a lightly armored vehicle, the warfighter could use an STM, which costs roughly the same as a pickup truck and reduces collateral damage."
STM has foldable fins and wings, which enable the weapon to be employed from the U.S. military's common launch tube. STM also incorporates a purpose-built warhead designed by Nammo-Talley and a Kaman Aerospace electronic safe arm and fire device.
