Norway to arm F-35 aircraft with StormBreaker guided bombs

On June 28, the US Department of State announced the approval for the potential sale of Raytheon StormBreaker bombs to Norway.

The StormBreaker will serve as armament for the multi-role Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter jets operated by the Norwegian Air Force, Defence Industry reports.

According to Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the purchase of 600 bombs, along with additional equipment such as diagnostic devices, full-scale models, and training/logistics services, could cost up to USD 293 million.

Initially, the Norwegian government planned to acquire only 20 bombs of this type, with the selection of Raytheon’s offer taking place in July of last year. Thanks to the positive decisions by US executive authorities, there is a significant chance that Norway will become the first European user of this type of bomb.

Each F-35A Lightning II can carry up to eight StormBreaker bombs in its internal weapon bays. The weapon integration process with the platform has not yet been completed, and ongoing tests will enable its utilization once the Block 4 configuration is deployed.

The StormBrekaer bombs are currently carried by the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle and Boeing F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet fighter jets (for carrier-based aircraft, initial operational capability has been achieved).

Developed by Raytheon, the StormBreaker bomb, with their multifunctional guidance system, can be employed to destroy both stationary and moving targets. Its lightweight (93 kg) allows for a higher quantity to be carried by multi-role fighter jets, enabling the engagement of a greater number of targets while minimizing damage in the surrounding area of the attack.