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By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick      Published  Oct 2, 2026 6:49 PM EDT     (all-the-weapons-a-single-navy-fighter-squadron-launched-during-operation-epic-fury.html#comments)    0           (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=twz.com) Add TWZ (opens in a new tab)      More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results.        (The F/A-18F Super Hornets of the U.S. Navy's Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), the "Black Aces," launched 421 missiles and bombs during their time supporting Operation Epic Fury.)   USN    The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (handle_newsletter_email_submission) (4bec8dae2a)  (/air/all-the-weapons-a-single-navy-fighter-squadron-launched-during-operation-epic-fury)  (TWZInline) (0) Email address  (Enter your email) (Please enter a valid email address)  Sign Up  Thank you!      (https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms of Service and(https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy        The volume of munitions (https://www.twz.com/news-features/severity-of-americas-depleted-advanced-weapons-stockpiles-detailed-in-new-report) expended in the course of U.S. operations against Iran this year has been and continues to be (https://www.twz.com/news-features/munitions-expenditures-in-iran-war-take-center-stage-at-senate-hearing) a hot topic of discussion , and there has been relatively little official data provided on this front. However, now we know that the (https://www.twz.com/air/murder-hornet-nickname-for-f-a-18s-equipped-with-nine-air-to-air-missiles-now-official) F/A-18F Super Hornets of the U.S. Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), the “Black Aces,” launched 421 missiles and bombs during their time supporting Operation Epic Fury. This new insight into VFA-41’s role in the conflict with Iran comes from a photo of a large board listing the squadron’s weapons expenditures during Epic Fury, via Jeff Rojas, who goes by the handle (https://www.instagram.com/jro_photography/?hl=en) @jro_photography on Instagram. Rojas also shared pictures recently taken of VFA-41’s Super Hornets. The Black Aces were one of the squadrons assigned to the (https://www.twz.com/sea/where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-september-30-2026) Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln  , which has (https://www.twz.com/sea/supercarrier-uss-abraham-lincoln-passes-200-consecutive-days-at-sea-mark) been on a marathon deployment (https://www.twz.com/sea/supercarrier-uss-abraham-lincoln-passes-200-consecutive-days-at-sea-mark) since last year . The carrier (https://www.twz.com/sea/uss-abraham-lincoln-looks-like-its-been-through-hell-after-286-days-at-sea) only left the Middle East region last month and is now set to formally return home to San Diego, California, within days. Per the Pentagon’s official timeline, Operation Epic Fury began on February 28 and concluded on May 5, though U.S. forces have continued to conduct strikes on Iran, on and off, since then. ()  One of VFA-41’s F/A-18F Super Hornets spotted recently.Jeff Rojas Jeffrey Rojas  The complete tally of munitions employed as shown on the board, broken down by type, from greatest to fewest, is as follows: 173 GBU-38/B 500-pound-class Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) GPS-assisted precision-guided bombs 52 GBU-31(V)4/B 2,000-pound-class JDAMs  48 GBU-54/B  500-pound-class dual-mode Laser JDAMs (LJDAM) 41 (https://www.twz.com/20446/jassm-is-grabbing-headlines-but-the-navys-own-stealthy-weapon-is-set-to-get-way-more-capable) AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) precision-guided glide bombs 33 (https://www.twz.com/29158/the-aim-9x-sidewinder-may-finally-evolve-into-a-completely-new-and-longer-range-missile) AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles 30 GBU-31(V)2/B 2,000-pound-class JDAMs  27 GBU-32/B 1,000-pound-class JDAMs  10 (https://www.twz.com/air/super-hornet-seen-with-rare-slam-er-missile-loadout-on-yemen-mission) AGM-84K Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) land attack cruise missiles 6 (https://www.twz.com/air/biggest-aim-120-amraam-order-ever-just-signed-by-pentagon) AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) 1 GBU-12/B 500-pound-class Paveway II laser-guided precision-guided bomb  The total cost of all of these munitions, using (https://www.twz.com/32277/here-is-what-each-of-the-pentagons-air-launched-missiles-and-bombs-actually-cost) available data from (https://www.twz.com/sea/what-the-navys-ship-launched-missiles-actually-cost) U.S. military budget documents , is very roughly $43,646,000, at least. Unit costs fluctuate regularly due to a variety of factors. Furthermore, the exact price tag for different JDAMs can be somewhat difficult to calculate given how the individual components are budgeted. The (https://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app5/jdam.html) JDAM is really a family of kits that turn standard unguided ‘iron bombs,’ which can vary significantly in the kinds of effects they are designed to produce, into warheads for precision-guided munitions. This is exemplified by the (V)2 and (V)4 subvariants of the GBU-31/B mentioned here, which are built using standard high-explosive and bunker-buster bombs, respectively. No specific subvariants of the GBU-32, GBU-38, or GBU-54 were mentioned in the information provided. Standard JDAMs can also only be employed against static target coordinates. The LJDAM kits add a laser guidance component (akin to what is found on Paveway-series bombs) that enables strikes against moving targets. ()  A JDAM, as well as a pair of AIM-9Xs, seen under the wing of a VFA-41 Super Hornet in August. NAVCENT   No specific version of AGM-154 is mentioned, either, but the C and C-1 types, which have multi-stage bunker-busting warheads, are the only ones understood to be in service today. Remaining A variants, which were loaded with 145 small bomblets, were removed from U.S. service in 2008 as a result of (https://www.twz.com/16603/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-us-militarys-new-cluster-munition-policy) new guidelines on cluster munitions issued under President George W. Bush. A planned AGM-154B, which would have contained six “smart” (https://www.twz.com/8967/miniature-smart-bombs-could-help-give-the-f-35-firepower-it-desperately-needs) Sensor Fuzed Munition bomblets, was never produced. You can read more about the full JSOW family (https://www.twz.com/20446/jassm-is-grabbing-headlines-but-the-navys-own-stealthy-weapon-is-set-to-get-way-more-capable) here . 2/2 (https://t.co/DRQuyMTwNa) https://t.co/DRQuyMTwNa  — Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) (https://x.com/GuyPlopsky/status/2030659856273985563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) March 8, 2026    We do not know exactly what targets any of these munitions were employed against. However, a picture that Jeff Rojas grabbed of one of VFA-41’s Super Hornets, seen toward the top of this story and in part below, shows a very interesting broken submarine kill marking, with the added text “Sub Buster.” The jet also has a number of more typical bomb-shaped kill marks. ()  A close-up look at the broken submarine and other kill marks on one of VFA-41’s Super Hornets. Jeff Rojas Jeffrey Rojas  Iranian naval vessels, including the country’s (https://www.twz.com/news-features/irans-key-naval-base-on-strait-of-hormuz-set-ablaze-from-strikes) Russian-made Kilo class and other submarines , were top priority targets during Epic Fury. The U.S. military has previously (https://www.twz.com/land/iranian-submarine-sunk-by-atacms-short-range-ballistic-missile) confirmed that air-launched AGM-114 Hellfire laser-guided missiles (likely fired from (https://www.airandspaceforces.com/mq-9-reaper-mvp-iran-war-despite-losses-wilsbach/) MQ-9 Reaper drones ) and (https://www.twz.com/land/iranian-submarine-sunk-by-atacms-short-range-ballistic-missile) ground-launched Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles were employed against submarines, specifically.  The video montage in the social media post below includes a clip, starting at 0:13 in the runtime, of a Hellfire missile hitting what looks to be a  (https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG/Asset/d3b078de230bf8e18174d007474258ad) Ghadirclass diesel-electric midget submarine  in port  . U.S. forces are degrading the Iranian regime's ability to project power at sea and harass international shipping. For years, Iranian forces have threatened freedom of navigation in waters essential to American, regional and global security and prosperity. (https://t.co/gIBN02mowh) pic.twitter.com/gIBN02mowh  — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) (https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2031456940090372370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) March 10, 2026    Bunker-busting JDAMs (https://www.twz.com/air/b-2-spirits-join-iran-air-war-pummel-underground-missile-caves) are also known to have been key munitions employed (https://www.twz.com/air/bombers-in-england-being-loaded-with-bunker-busters-a-sign-of-increasing-air-supremacy-over-iran) during strikes on targets in Iran during Epic Fury. TWZ previously (https://www.twz.com/news-features/u-s-israeli-war-with-iran-enters-day-two) called explicit attention to the employment of JSOW in the opening phases of the operation, as well. Navy strike fighter squadrons (https://www.twz.com/air/super-hornet-seen-with-rare-slam-er-missile-loadout-on-yemen-mission) made significant use of SLAM-ERs in strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen last year, too. Honest Abe is burning through the JSOWs like crazy. (https://t.co/rQMZPBnwAz) https://t.co/rQMZPBnwAz  — Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) (https://x.com/Aviation_Intel/status/2028193901472043113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) March 1, 2026    1/ Aside from the launch of F/A-18E/Fs armed with JSOW C/C-1s, the video also shows F/A-18Es armed with SLAM-ER ATAs parked on the fligh deck. (https://t.co/3TC4kKIn17) https://t.co/3TC4kKIn17 (https://t.co/OqQBbRrYGY) pic.twitter.com/OqQBbRrYGY  — Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) (https://x.com/GuyPlopsky/status/1901184194954534976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) March 16, 2025    It is extremely likely that the AIM-9Xs and AIM-120s were fired at Iranian drones, though they could have been launched at incoming cruise missiles, as well. At the time of writing, there are no known or reported instances of U.S. military jets engaging crewed Iranian aircraft in the course of the conflict to date. In 2024, the Navy (https://www.twz.com/air/navy-ea-18g-growlers-get-aim-9x-super-hornets-can-now-carry-more-sidewinders) carried out a crash program that increased the total number of AIM-9Xs that F/A-18E/Fs could carry per sortie, specifically in response to Houthi drone threats. Super Hornets loaded with nine air-to-air missiles are (https://www.twz.com/air/murder-hornet-nickname-for-f-a-18s-equipped-with-nine-air-to-air-missiles-now-official) now referred to as “Murder Hornets.”  Notably absent in VFA-41’s tally is any mention of 70mm laser-guided (https://www.twz.com/air/laser-guided-rockets-now-primary-anti-drone-weapon-for-usaf-jets-in-middle-east) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets . Air-to-air optimized versions of the APKWS II are now part of the arsenal available to U.S. Air Force (https://www.twz.com/air/f-16s-have-been-using-laser-guided-rockets-to-shoot-down-houthi-drones) F-16C Vipers , (https://www.twz.com/air/laser-guided-rocket-armed-f-15e-strike-eagles-make-super-bowl-cameo-appearance) F-15E Strike Eagles , and (https://www.twz.com/air/a-10-warthog-appears-to-have-become-a-drone-killer) A-10 Warthogs , and have become (https://www.twz.com/air/laser-guided-rockets-now-primary-anti-drone-weapon-for-usaf-jets-in-middle-east) the service’s go-to aerial weapon for engaging drones . In February, the U.S. Marine Corps disclosed that it was working to integrate this (https://www.twz.com/air/usmcs-old-f-a-18-hornets-to-get-drone-swatting-laser-guided-rockets) capability onto its legacy F/A-18C/D Hornets . Whether the Navy has any such plans for the Super Hornet is unclear. It is also important to remember that this is a discussion of the munitions expended by just one Navy strike fighter squadron. Lincoln ‘s air wing includes four strike squadrons, three with Super Hornets and one with F-35Cs, as well as units flying other types of aircraft and helicopters. The carrier was just one part of a much larger array of air, naval, and ground forces that participated in Operation Epic Fury and subsequent operations against Iran. For additional context, consider that the entire Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, including its entire air wing and escorting ships, fired off (https://www.twz.com/news-features/770-weapons-expended-by-eisenhower-carrier-strike-group-on-historic-red-sea-deployment) 770 munitions in total , by the official count , during very active combat operations in and around the Red Sea between November 2023 and June 2024. ()  VFA-41 Super Hornets seen flying together recently. Jeff Rojas   All of this speaks to the larger matter of how many munitions the U.S. military (https://www.twz.com/news-features/severity-of-americas-depleted-advanced-weapons-stockpiles-detailed-in-new-report) has expended in the course of operations against Iran this year, which is now (https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/15/iran-war-munitions-shortfall-01076933) fueling concerns about (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm4gjgzjrvp5o) the sufficiency of remaining stockpiles and what it will take to replenish them. As such, the tally of munitions launched from VFA-41 Super Hornets offers a very interesting view into that squadron’s contributions to Operation Epic Fury, as well as the full scale and scope of the conflict with Iran. Special thanks again to Jeff Rojas for sharing the details about VFA-41’s participation in Operation Epic Fury and his pictures with us.  Contact the author: joe@twz.com  (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) (Joseph Trevithick Avatar)   (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick   Deputy Editor    Joseph is  TWZ’s  Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area.   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Latest in F/A-18E/F (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-260-jatm-missile-spotted-on-australian-super-hornet) (A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to No. 1 Squadron takes flight at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu during Gray Flag 2026, Sept. 11, 2026. Gray Flag is the naval aviation test community’s premier large-force test event, providing unique venues for large-scale integration of new capabilities across services and platforms. Working with the Joint Force, industry and our nation’s allies to ensure integration and interoperability is key to ensuring warfighters have a decisive advantage in the field.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18E/F   (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-260-jatm-missile-spotted-on-australian-super-hornet) AIM-260 JATM Missile Spotted On Australian Super Hornet   The secretive AIM-260 air-to-air missile will give Australian fighters a much-needed boost in reach, especially against Chinese threats. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick        1:01 PM  October 1, 2026      (https://www.twz.com/air/blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-seen-flying-on-f-a-18-super-hornet-for-the-first-time) (The U.S. Navy has given us the first look at Blackbeard hypersonic strike missiles under the wings of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets during actual flight testing.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18E/F   (https://www.twz.com/air/blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-seen-flying-on-f-a-18-super-hornet-for-the-first-time) Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile Seen Flying On F/A-18 Super Hornet For The First Time   The Navy is pushing to get Blackbeard, a lower-cost and fast-to-produce standoff weapon, into operational service by 2028 at the latest. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick        4:37 PM  September 25, 2026        ()    The TWZ Newsletter  Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (https://twz.beehiiv.com/) Sign Up  By signing up you agree to our(https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms of Service and(https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy.           More   (https://www.twz.com/air/a-10-warthogs-arrive-in-england-festooned-with-nose-art-and-mission-markings-from-epic-fury) (A-10C Thunderbolt II close-support jets with kill marking were seen at RAF Lakenheath.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/a-10) A-10   (https://www.twz.com/air/a-10-warthogs-arrive-in-england-festooned-with-nose-art-and-mission-markings-from-epic-fury) A-10 Warthogs Arrive In England Festooned With Nose Art And Mission Markings From Epic Fury   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman) Howard Altman           (https://www.twz.com/air/kc-135-tanker-crashes-in-iraq-during-operation-epic-fury-sortie) (A KC-135 refueling tanker crashed in Iraq, according to CENTCOM.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/kc-135) KC-135   (https://www.twz.com/air/kc-135-tanker-crashes-in-iraq-during-operation-epic-fury-sortie) KC-135 Tanker Crashes In Iraq During Operation Epic Fury Sortie (Updated)   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman) Howard Altman ,  (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick  ,  Joseph (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/watch-missiles-clobber-a-mothballed-u-s-navy-frigate-during-rimpac) (Missiles Clobber A Retired U.S. Navy Frigate During RIMPAC)     (https://www.twz.com/category/us-navy) U.S. Navy   (https://www.twz.com/watch-missiles-clobber-a-mothballed-u-s-navy-frigate-during-rimpac) Missiles Clobber A Retired U.S. Navy Frigate During RIMPAC   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/stetson-payne) Stetson Payne           (https://www.twz.com/air/veteran-kc-135-base-commanders-view-of-epic-furys-strain-on-the-tanker-force) (KC-135 is being used heavily in Operation Epic Fury.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/kc-10) KC-10   (https://www.twz.com/air/veteran-kc-135-base-commanders-view-of-epic-furys-strain-on-the-tanker-force) Veteran KC-135 Base Commander’s View Of Epic Fury’s Strain On The Tanker Force   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman) Howard Altman           (https://www.twz.com/retired-uss-denver-sent-to-davy-jones-locker-during-second-rimpac-sinkex) (SINKEX uss denver)     (https://www.twz.com/category/us-homeland) U.S. Homeland   (https://www.twz.com/retired-uss-denver-sent-to-davy-jones-locker-during-second-rimpac-sinkex) Retired USS Denver Sent To Davy Jones’ Locker During Second RIMPAC SINKEX   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/emma-helfrich) Emma Helfrich           (https://www.twz.com/news-features/navy-f-a-18s-close-call-with-an-iranian-sam-highlights-remaining-risks-to-epic-fury-aviators) (Super Hornet has a near miss with a SAM near the short of the Gulf Of Oman.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/iran) Iran   (https://www.twz.com/news-features/navy-f-a-18s-close-call-with-an-iranian-sam-highlights-remaining-risks-to-epic-fury-aviators) Navy F/A-18’s Close Call With An Iranian SAM Highlights Remaining Risks To Epic Fury Aviators (Updated)   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick           (https://www.twz.com/sea/usmc-used-its-expeditionary-operations-playbook-in-combat-for-first-time-during-epic-fury) (The Marines used their Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) concept for the first time in combat during Epic Fury.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/us-marine-corps) U.S. Marine Corps   (https://www.twz.com/sea/usmc-used-its-expeditionary-operations-playbook-in-combat-for-first-time-during-epic-fury) USMC Used Its Expeditionary Operations Playbook In Combat For First Time During Epic Fury   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman) Howard Altman           (https://www.twz.com/11355/this-syria-bound-super-hornet-is-carrying-a-uniquely-massive-bomb-load) (This Syria-Bound Super Hornet Is Carrying A Uniquely Massive Bomb Load)     (https://www.twz.com/category/syria) Syria   (https://www.twz.com/11355/this-syria-bound-super-hornet-is-carrying-a-uniquely-massive-bomb-load) This Syria-Bound Super Hornet Is Carrying A Uniquely Massive Bomb Load   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway) Tyler Rogoway           (https://www.twz.com/category/air) SEE MORE         (https://www.twz.com/) ()    The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   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