The key facts

  • The tests took place at the Yuma range (Arizona) with the participation of the Marine Corps' 1st Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron
  • SDB II (StormBreaker) is a guided bomb weighing about 113 kg, designed to hit moving targets from a distance of at least 70 km in various weather conditions
  • Integration of StormBreaker into the F-35 was delayed by software failures; the tests were conducted on the F-35B variant, and rollout to all F-35s has not yet been confirmed

Tests at the Yuma Range

The test took place at the Yuma range in Arizona. It involved pilots of the US Marine Corps' 1st Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron. This was not a simultaneous drop of eight bombs, but their sequential release during a single approach to the target — meaning the aircraft does not need to make a repeat pass for each bomb.

What StormBreaker Is

SDB II, also known as StormBreaker, is a small precision guided bomb weighing about 113 kilograms. According to the outlet, it is designed to destroy moving targets at a distance of at least 70 kilometers in various weather conditions.

Integration Delays and Possible Consequences

Integration of StormBreaker into the F-35's armament was delayed by software problems and other difficulties. Nevertheless, the ability to employ multiple bombs in a single pass could change the way the aircraft carries out combat missions.

Assessments and Limitations

Retired US Air Force Major General John Norman commented to Air & Space Forces Magazine that this method reduces the need for multiple approaches to the target. In his view, this cuts the risks associated with additional sorties and eases the burden of manually calculating employment parameters for each munition. StormBreaker's network data-sharing capabilities also make it possible to restrict the engagement area to a predefined field in advance — the article calls this one of the advantages over cluster munitions of the previous generation. The current test was conducted on the F-35B variant; its results do not mean this capability has already been implemented on all F-35 aircraft.