The US Navy has approved Raytheon’s StormBreaker smart weapon for operational use on the F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet, giving the strike fighter a precision‑strike capability against moving and fixed targets in all weather conditions.
StormBreaker, an all‑weather, network‑enabled smart munition, equips pilots to autonomously detect, classify, and engage both stationary and mobile targets over long distances, reducing exposure to hostile threats.
Designed with a tri‑mode seeker that combines millimeter‑wave radar, imaging infrared, and semi‑active laser guidance, the weapon is compact enough to allow a single aircraft to carry multiple rounds, increasing mission flexibility.
It has already been fielded on the F‑15E Strike Eagle and first appeared on a US Navy platform in 2023 when Super Hornets began carrying it.
“StormBreaker’s accuracy and versatility give operators the upper hand in the most degraded environments,” according to Raytheon officials.
In addition to the F/A‑18E/F, StormBreaker is undergoing integration on all variants of the F‑35 Joint Strike Fighter, expanding its reach across major US combat air platforms.
Other Countries Using StormBreaker
StormBreaker is gaining traction beyond US forces through foreign military sales (FMS) and allied integrations.
The Royal Norwegian Air Force selected the weapon for its F‑35A fleet as early as 2022, aiming to enhance operational capability with stand‑off precision strike options that perform in poor weather and against moving targets. The US approved the sale in 2023.
Beyond Norway, a January 2024 contract awarded by the US Air Force included FMS users in several NATO countries — specifically Germany, Italy, and Finland — for delivery of more than 1,500 StormBreaker smart weapons.
In addition to air‑launched developments, Raytheon completed a ground‑launched variant test of StormBreaker in 2025, demonstrating efforts to expand the weapon’s deployment modalities.
