Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A fighters conducted a live-fire exercise on March 9, 2026, in Norway, releasing four GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition bombs. NATO Allied Air Command reported the drill involved two aircraft demonstrating heavy precision weapon delivery in close-air support and long-range strike scenarios under High North conditions of harsh weather, low visibility, and demanding terrain.
Norway completed delivery of its full fleet of 52 F-35As, becoming the first partner nation to finish its acquisition program. The exercise integrated the stealth fighter’s advanced sensors and targeting systems with JDAM munitions to bolster NATO deterrence and readiness in northern Europe and Arctic approaches.
The GBU-31, a 2,000-pound class weapon, combines a guidance tail kit with unguided Mk 84 or BLU-109 bombs, employing GPS and inertial navigation systems. This enables all-weather strikes with a circular error probable of 5 to 10 meters under optimal conditions, or up to 16 feet with GPS, degrading to 98 feet on INS alone. Range reaches approximately 15 nautical miles. The system’s tail fins adjust trajectory post-release for accuracy despite cloud cover or poor visibility, critical for Norwegian operations where laser or visual systems falter.
This pairing of fifth-generation aircraft and GPS-guided bombs underscores Norway’s shift toward realistic live-fire training, enhancing NATO’s precision-strike posture in strategically vital regions.