Viper Strike

Manufacturer:

Northrop Grumman [NOC]

Characteristics:

A derivative of the Brilliant Anti-Armor (BAT) submunition, the 36-inch long, 5.5-inch diameter munition with deployable wingflaps uses a semi-active laser seeker to find the designated target. It is built by converting BAT submunitions from Lockheed Martinís [LMT] Army Tactical Missile System.

Combat Use:

It is an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program and not deployed.

Foreign Users:

No foreign equivalent

Analysis:

The Viper Strike is intended to be mounted on a Hunter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, built by Northrop Grumman and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), which requires a new wing. The Viper Strike mounts on an Existing Air Force bomb rack attached to a plyon. The integration was successfully tested in August 2003 against a variety of moving and stationary targets. The munition is for operations that require a steep angle of attack, such as mountainous terrain or urban areas. The munition requires someone to laze the target to ensure accuracy.