A new laser-guided bomb from Northrop Grumman–the Viper Strike–was successfully tested against moving and stationary targets at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico last month according to Defense Update. The rather small munition, weighing in at only 44 lbs, is designed for use in urban combat, where it’s precision strike capability, combined with its small size and flexible angle of attack, will allow the military to further reduce collateral damage from aerial strikes. The bomb is also specifically made for use in conjunction with the military’s rapidly growing fleet of UAVs. This looks to be an ideal weapon for targeting terrorists in places like North Waziristan, where U.S. forces and jets are prohibited from engaging targets. Still, with a smaller warhead than the Hellfire missile, this represents a significant effort on the part of the Pentagon to reduce civilian casualties. Pretty exciting stuff. Here are the pictures:
