StormBreaker Bomb Intact After Landing in Yemen, Sparking Fears of U.S. Weapon Falling Into Wrong Hands

• It seems that the US Navy is employing new "StormBreaker" glide bombs against the Houthis.
• A precision-guided weapon appears to have been discovered buried in the sands of Yemen earlier this week.
• Intact undamaged debris could be utilized by U.S. adversaries such as Iran.

U.S. warplanes seem to be employing sophisticated " StormBreaker" precision glide bombs in their attacks on the Houthi fighters as part of an aggressive bombardment targeting the Iranian-supported insurgents.

A picture showing what appeared to be an unexploded U.S.-made bomb partially buried in the sand started circulating on social media on Thursday. Analysts using open-source intelligence determined that the photo was taken in Yemen’s southern Shabwah Governorate.

Trevor Ball, who previously served as an explosives specialist in the U.S. Army, recognized the device as the GBU-53/B StormBreaker, a recently introduced weapon in the American military inventory. He informed Business Insider that finding this bomb apparently undamaged raises concerns because it might end up with undesirable parties.

The GBU-53/B, also referred to as the Small Diameter Bomb Increment II, is a precisely guided long-range munition equipped with deployable wings for extended glide capability. This 200-pound ordnance is developed by American aerospace company RTX, formerly known as Raytheon, and can be launched from naval fighters such as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

According to the Naval Air Systems Command, this weapon can be employed against both moving and fixed targets and is designed to function effectively under adverse weather conditions. Additionally, the bomb has the capability to acquire new targeting information while en route.

In October 2023, the Navy announced an early operational capability for the StormBreaker, stating that their Super Hornets would be the initial aircraft models equipped with this weapon.

The US Central Command, responsible for overseeing operations in the Middle East, released video footage last month indicating the presence of the StormBreaker along with other weaponry onboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. This vessel has been at the forefront of these activities. Houthi conflict .

The War Zone, which initially reported On Friday with the discovery of StormBreaker in Yemen, spotted evidence Last month was the first time the Navy utilized the weapon in actual combat.

The photograph of what appears to be the StormBreaker seems to indicate clearly that the U.S. is employing this weapon against the Houthis. The fact that the projectile remains undamaged indicates that the air defenses failed to intercept it. When asked about the event, a Defense Department official chose not to comment and refused to offer additional information.

A researcher from Armament Research Services, Ball, mentioned that the danger in this scenario is that Iran, which has historically backed the Houthis, might obtain access to the StormBreaker.

Iranis are well-known for deconstructing weapon systems and developing their own replicas," Ball stated. "The faster Iran can obtain weaponry to use before the U.S. deploys similar technology, the better they can attempt to close capability gaps.

This might even extend benefits to Russia, which has experienced growing advantages. strengthen defensive alliances with Iran since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ball stated that even though the StormBreaker was discovered in a part of Yemen not under Houthi control, "it underscores the danger of unused explosives potentially falling into Iranian hands." This concern is heightened due to the likelihood of advanced classified elements being present within the weapon system.

"The larger the scope of aerial bombings and their utilization, the higher the probability of this occurrence," Ball stated, also noting that the same danger pertains to the AGM-158, a weapon the U.S. has been employing. against the Houthis .

The AGM-158, also known as the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), is a stealthy, long-range cruise missile produced by Lockheed Martin. Along with the JASSM, the StormBreaker plays a role. standoff weapons This implies that planes can deploy these weapons from afar, thus evading Houthi air defense systems, which cannot be done with traditional gravity bombs that are released directly above a target.

The US seems to be utilizing the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) and other sophisticated ammunition were used against the Houthis.

The US has been bombing the Houthis For six consecutive weeks, they aimed to make the insurgents halt their assaults on Red Sea vessels. Since the initial phase of this fierce operation, the military has shared minimal information with the public, although they did admit to it. seizing control of a key Houthi-held oil facility Last week, dozens of individuals allegedly lost their lives in the assault.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on Thursday that the U.S. has conducted strikes against numerous Houthi targets. since the campaign began And significantly weakened its leadership. Nevertheless, experts remain skeptical that these attacks will substantially diminish the rebels' abilities; past strikes have not proven effective. For example, just a couple of days ago, they launched missiles into Israel.

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