GBU-44 Viper Strike: Death From Above

The Viper Strike began life as the BAT – a canceled munition option for ground-fired ATACMS missiles. After USAF Predator UAVs armed with Hellfire missiles began to show promise in the Global War on Terror, however, US Army planners began to examine their options for placing a similar capability in the hands of Army ground commanders. In July 2002, these examinations led to the award of a 90-day contract to demonstrate the possibility of BAT deployment on a modified U.S. Army RQ-5 Hunter UAV.

Those tests went well, and Viper Strikes are currently carried by RQ-5A Hunter UAVs in Iraq – see this video of a Viper Strike in testing [MPG, 13.2 MB]. The weapon's small size (3 feet long, 44 pounds) and special advantages in urban fights, mountainous terrain, etc. make it likely to spread to other platforms. Which is exactly what's happening, as Special Operations Command shows interest and the US Army slowly moves forward into production…

Continue reading…