U.S. Navy Clears StormBreaker weapon for Super Hornet Fleet

The United States Navy has approved Raytheon’s StormBreaker smart weapon for operational use on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter, the company announced Feb. 20, 2026.

The approval expands the Navy’s precision strike capability at a time when naval aviation forces are adapting to contested environments that demand engagement of mobile targets in poor visibility and adverse weather. The weapon is designed to reduce exposure time for aircrews while enabling attacks against multiple surface targets during dynamic combat operations.

According to a press release from Raytheon, StormBreaker is currently the only operational smart weapon capable of engaging both moving and stationary targets in all weather conditions over land and sea. Its compact size allows a single aircraft to carry more weapons compared with larger legacy munitions, increasing strike capacity during missions.

“The Super Hornet plays a critical role in the Navy’s air combat strategy and equipping it with StormBreaker increases the aircraft’s lethality by enabling precision strike in all weather conditions,” said Sam Deneke, president of Air & Space Defense Systems at Raytheon. “StormBreaker’s accuracy and versatility gives operators the upper hand in the most degraded environments, ensuring they can complete the mission and return home safely.”

The Navy previously began integrating the weapon onto the Super Hornet platform, which became the first U.S. Navy aircraft to carry StormBreaker in 2023. The newly announced approval confirms the system has completed required evaluation steps for operational use across the fleet.

StormBreaker, also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II, is a network-enabled precision weapon equipped with a tri-mode seeker combining infrared imaging, millimeter-wave radar, and semi-active laser guidance. This combination allows the munition to identify and track targets through fog, smoke, rain, or battlefield obscurants while maintaining accuracy against moving objectives.

The weapon can receive in-flight targeting updates from aircraft or ground controllers, enabling operators to adjust strike plans after release. This capability supports engagement of time-sensitive targets and reduces reliance on pre-programmed coordinates.

In operational terms, the system allows carrier-based aircraft to strike targets without requiring optimal weather or uninterrupted visual contact. By enabling stand-off engagement against mobile threats, the weapon reduces the need for aircraft to remain within defended airspace for extended periods.

StormBreaker is already approved for operational use on the F-15E Strike Eagle and continues integration across the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C fighter variants. Expanding compatibility across multiple aircraft types allows joint force interoperability using a common precision munition.

The approval comes as naval aviation units emphasize distributed maritime operations and rapid response strike capabilities. Precision weapons capable of engaging moving targets are increasingly prioritized as naval forces prepare for operations where adversaries rely on mobility and electronic disruption to complicate targeting.