Forum: F-35 Armament, Stores and Tactics

The PLGS only adds a couple of inches to the length of a JDAM. Since the JSOW is much longer than a 2k JDAM, overall length is not an issue.

Worst case they can shift the hardback and move the bomb to the rear an inch or two.

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SpudmanWP wrote:

The PLGS only adds a couple of inches to the length of a JDAM. Since the JSOW is much longer than a 2k JDAM, overall length is not an issue.

Worst case they can shift the hardback and move the bomb to the rear an inch or two.

Yep, it's a non-issue. The AGM-154 JSOW is nearly 8 inches longer than the GBU-31 2K JDAM, so an LJDAM ain't going to be too much of an issue.

Of course I believe it is still the case that no customer has actually ordered Laser JDAM with a Mk-84 warhead, because why would you want moving target capability (the orimary driver behind adding Laser to the JDAM) with a 2000lbs weapon, when there is nothing on this planet that can move fast enough to require Laser AND can withstand a 500lbs blast, but that said, if it's needed for extreme accuracy or some other reason it won't be a problem inside an F-35A/C.

While no customer has used a 2k LJDAM, it has been tested.

It's main purpose would be internal for the JSF anyhow as anyone else could just use and external Paveway.

Although the article in the link is old and not from a source that is well received it none-the-less describes the modularity of the JDAM and the relative ease of improving it's accuracy. Remember seeing artwork in a book showing seeker equipped JDAM's as an internal store for the F-35.

http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-JDAMPt1.html

I understand that 2000-pound Paveways are too big to fit inside, but why do the images of what goes inside & outside on F-35 show only 500-pound Paveways inside and 1000-pounders only outside? A 1000-pound GBU-16 is neither too heavy for any version of F-35 to carry internally, nor too long at least for F-35A and F-35C although I don't know about F-35B (being shorter than JSOW and JSM but longer than JDAM), nor too tall/wide (with a smaller diameter or width & height than several types of weapons F-35 does carry internally).

Not sure why only 500lb Paveways are shown for internal install but 2k Paveways are part of the external loadout plan.

Since it is the length forward of the suspension lugs that is critical (considering the added length of the PavewayII guidance system), the Mk83 based PavewayII may be too long forward of the lugs. One possible solution is to used the British Mk13/16 1k bomb for an internal PavewayII since it is shorter and fatter than the Mk83.

And the best use of LG ammunitions is to hit moving targets. In reality you rarely need to use a 2k pounder for such purpose, a SDB/hellfire is enough to kill even a main battle tank...

batu731 wrote:

And the best use of LG ammunitions is to hit moving targets. In reality you rarely need to use a 2k pounder for such purpose, a SDB/hellfire is enough to kill even a main battle tank...

Maritime strike comes to mind for some users. Most non-Russian standoff weaps just don't have the payload to finish off a large surface combatant and subs might not be available.

Pinpoint strikes are another use.

LGBs are nice and accurate but the target still needs lasing. Fire-and-forget munitions get my vote for a number of reasons.

velocityvector wrote:

batu731 wrote:

And the best use of LG ammunitions is to hit moving targets. In reality you rarely need to use a 2k pounder for such purpose, a SDB/hellfire is enough to kill even a main battle tank...

Maritime strike comes to mind for some users. Most non-Russian standoff weaps just don't have the payload to finish off a large surface combatant and subs might not be available.

Even a stealthy aircraft isn't going to want to get in range to drop a 2K bomb, of a surface combatant. Multiple SDB II hits from varying azimuths/angles, and launched from considerably greater range would be preferable, as would using JSOW, etc..

Depends on the target and the environment. Against the Iranian or Pak navies near a crowd of merchies, you might be better off using F-35 with LGBs else authorization may not be granted. In other scenarios, waves of Harpoon/JSOW/SDB may eventually take down AAW capability but they won't sink the target and you want that, e.g., the target is carrying tubes filled with nuclear rockets (friendly Asia v. Norks). The flexibility is nice to have.

velocityvector wrote:

Depends on the target and the environment. Against the Iranian or Pak navies near a crowd of merchies, you might be better off using F-35 with LGBs else authorization may not be granted. In other scenarios, waves of Harpoon/JSOW/SDB may eventually take down AAW capability but they won't sink the target and you want that, e.g., the target is carrying tubes filled with nuclear rockets (friendly Asia v. Norks). The flexibility is nice to have.

An SDB hitting the bridge, or missile magazine would result in some rather unpleasant results for the ship/crew.

But not the chaff clouds or other deception measures, crane (Eilat), lifeboat, hangar, helicopter, funnel, tower yadda yadda yadda. When you must destroy the hairy beast, care enough to send the very best. Or something like that.

Using the datalink in a JSOW/SDB2 allows you to aim for a specific part of the target. Also, IIR seekers also allow for target discrimination.

Forum: F-35 Armament, Stores and Tactics

The CEP of JDAM