US Navy Tests StormBreaker Smart Bomb With Super Hornet

8 November 2023

17 1 minute read

Abone Ol

The US Navy has conducted the initial fielding of the StormBreaker “smart” air-to-surface weapon using F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet multirole combat aircraft.

StormBreaker is a winged precision-guided munition developed by Raytheon to autonomously detect and intercept moving targets in extreme weather conditions.

Previously called the Small Diameter Bomb II, the system uses navigational guidance technologies to effectively neutralize targets.

It can cover over 40 miles (54 kilometers) to reach mobile maritime and land assets, Raytheon wrote.

Maintaining Fourth-Gen Aircraft Relevance

The test followed a similar series with the F-35B Lightning II fighter jet, which seeks the integration of the armament into the US Department of Defense’s fifth-generation military aircraft.

The program commenced in November 2021 and was completed in September 2022.

In October 2020, the US Air Force approved the StormBreaker’s operational capability for F-15E Strike Eagle flights.

he weapon’s unprecedented capabilities provide aviators with the ability to strike targets in difficult and dynamic scenarios,” Raytheon Air Power President Paul Ferraro stated.

“StormBreaker is a prime example of how we are using digital technologies to deliver advanced air dominance weapons, ensuring the continued relevance of fourth-generation aircraft.”