In a demonstration that could redefine the future of joint allied warfare, Norwegian forces have achieved what many military strategists once considered a distant goal: taking direct command of an American precision munition mid-flight and guiding it to target using their own national sensors. The operation, disclosed by the Norwegian Ministry of Defense on May 28, 2025, but executed on May 14, marks a turning point in NATO’s move toward fully integrated, network-centric warfare.
The unprecedented trial involved two GBU-53/B StormBreaker smart bombs, launched from a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet off the coast of Norway. Unlike previous joint exercises, these bombs were not merely tracked by allied forces. Instead, Norwegian operators aboard a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft assumed full control of the munitions once they were airborne. Utilizing a real-time combat network and advanced onboard sensors, Norwegian forces guided the bombs with pinpoint accuracy to their designated targets.
Traditional precision bombing relies on a “fire-and-forget” model—munitions are locked onto a target and launched, with little room for change after release. The StormBreaker, however, belongs to a new class of “fire-and-update” smart weapons. Developed by Raytheon, the GBU-53/B can be reprogrammed mid-flight using live intelligence, making it a potent tool in fluid, fast-evolving combat zones.
Weighing just over 200 pounds, the StormBreaker is compact but lethal, featuring a tri-mode seeker (millimeter-wave radar, imaging infrared, and semi-active laser) and a two-way datalink for real-time communication. It can strike both moving and stationary targets, even in poor visibility or bad weather. With these capabilities, it’s not just a bomb—it’s a thinking weapon within a connected digital ecosystem.
The F-15E Strike Eagle, developed by Boeing, remains a backbone of U.S. airpower due to its long-range capabilities and versatile payload options. In this exercise, the aircraft served a new role: launch platform. It released the StormBreakers from a safe distance, allowing them to glide autonomously while awaiting further instructions from allied command centers.
Critically, the Strike Eagle did not need visual confirmation of the target nor did it loiter in contested airspace. This strategic shift minimizes risk to pilots and aircraft while maximizing mission success.
The real star of this trial, however, was Norway’s Boeing P-8A Poseidon—an aircraft adapted from the commercial 737-800 platform and optimized for maritime surveillance and reconnaissance. Armed with cutting-edge APY-10 radar, electronic surveillance tools, and electro-optical/infrared sensors, the P-8A tracked targets deep inside a simulated contested zone.
The Poseidon’s sensors fed a continuous stream of data into the multinational digital combat network, allowing operators to see, assess, and engage targets in real-time. Once the StormBreakers were airborne, this data was used to dynamically redirect the munitions, aligning their path with emerging threats.
“This capability isn’t just evolutionary, it’s revolutionary,” stated a Norwegian defense spokesperson. “For the first time, a non-U.S. NATO partner assumed real-time control over U.S. munitions using national sensors. This wasn’t simulation—this was a live-fire event in a near-operational setting.”
What makes this development strategically vital is the level of interoperability it demonstrates. Cross-national command of munitions has long been a goal within NATO, but technical, logistical, and political hurdles have often limited its execution. Now, thanks to advances in data fusion, secure communications, and standardized protocols, such integration is becoming a battlefield reality.
By enabling allied nations to control each other’s weapons systems using independent sensor networks, NATO significantly enhances operational agility. Frontline units can exploit a shared intelligence picture drawn from a mosaic of land, air, and sea-based sensors. The result: faster decision-making, reduced duplication, and a cohesive strike force with distributed control.
This new command architecture also changes how risk is managed in combat operations. Launch platforms like the F-15E can remain safely beyond the reach of enemy air defenses, delegating targeting duties to allied assets already in theater. The P-8A Poseidon, with its extended range and loitering capabilities, can persistently surveil areas of interest and retarget munitions as battlefield conditions evolve.
“The benefit is twofold,” explained an official from NATO’s Joint Air Power Competence Centre. “You preserve your high-value assets while striking more precisely and responsively. That’s a force multiplier.”
The successful integration of U.S. smart munitions into a Norwegian sensor and command ecosystem is not just a tactical win—it’s a strategic leap. It sets a precedent for future operations where multinational forces operate not as independent actors but as a singular, adaptive combat organism.
This capability will be crucial in high-threat environments such as the Arctic, Baltic, or Indo-Pacific theaters, where rapid response and flexible targeting can mean the difference between success and failure. As electronic warfare, cyber attacks, and GPS jamming become more prevalent, the resilience offered by distributed control becomes indispensable.
Moreover, this trial acts as a model for integrating other types of advanced weaponry—from loitering munitions and hypersonic glide vehicles to next-generation cruise missiles—into a unified NATO command structure.
The implications of the May 14 trial are already rippling through allied planning circles. NATO is likely to codify the technical standards, operational procedures, and legal frameworks that will govern multinational munition control.
This could lead to more joint exercises focused on network-enabled warfare, wider distribution of advanced sensor platforms among NATO members, and the integration of cyber and space-based assets into the command network.
Norway’s operational success may also drive procurement strategies. Smaller nations may now see greater value in investing in sensor-rich platforms like the P-8A, even if they lack a large air force. The ability to influence the battlefield through data—rather than sheer firepower—reshapes military calculus.
Ultimately, this trial is a glimpse into the future of warfare—one where the kill chain is no longer linear but dynamic and multidimensional. The speed at which data moves, not just the speed at which aircraft fly, becomes the key to dominance.
With the GBU-53/B StormBreaker serving as a bridge between kinetic power and digital intelligence, NATO now has proof that its vision of a fully integrated digital battlefield is achievable. Norway’s leadership in this trial reinforces the value of alliance cohesion, technological investment, and tactical innovation.
