Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

Does anyone have information on the BRU-57 for the F-16 A/C?

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Last edited by Stefaan on Jun 06, 2003 - 10:20 AM; edited 1 time in total

mastercard,

The BRU-57/A is a bomb rack designed to carry two smart bombs in the 1000lbs class such as JSOW, WCMD or JDAM.

The BRU-57/A will initially only be used by Air Force F-16s (another version, the BRU-55/A, will be used on US Navy F/A-18s).

The BRU-57 consists of a BRU-33 strongback and two BRU-46 ejectors, and uses a standard 1760 electronics interface.

stef

The Common Configuration Implementation Program (CCIP - pronounced C-sip) is an extensive upgrade to USAF Block 40/50 F-16C/D F-16s. Part of the first upgrade phase are software provisions for the BRU-57 bomb rack. The Air Force wants BRU-57 operational for its latest CCIP airplanes.

The first of about 650 F-16s being upgraded was completed ahead of schedule in late January 2002.

CCIP Phase II will begin in July 2003. This phase adds the NATO-standard Link 16 data link, the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System and an electronic horizontal situation indictor. The Block 50/52 aircraft receiving the modifications in the earlier phases will go back through the depot mod line at Ogden to receive the additional changes. The Block 40/42 versions will receive the entire modification all at one time, beginning in 2005.

See also: First F-16 CCIP delivered

Lieven

Guest

Do the BRU-57's have the ability to carry a mixed loadout on each rack? For example, could you load a 1,000 lb JDAM and a JSOW on the same rack, or do they have to match per each rack?

Although the BRU is still undergoing final testing, the software will allow for carrige 2 different sub stores, ie. WCMD outboard and JSOW in board.

Thanks Loader for the info. Will make a modeling project a little more interesting.

NICE RACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you put a GBU-12 on it? I have never seen it mentioned in any of the public consumption stuff. Reason I ask is that 2 GBU38 and 2 GBU12 would be a nice, set up for ops like today. It will be a long time before we have a dual sensor PGM kit as everyday, available issue. Laughing

Or you could just get get an EGBU-12 and not need the JDAM's at all Razz

But yes, The Smart Rack can carry mixed store loads and as its based on the BRU-33, it can carry dual GBU-12 (Smart Rack was offered to the RAF as part of the PGB contract and thus had to be capable of carrying two GBU-12 style weapons)

Photo by Stephen Toernblom - 90-0729 - November 12, 2005

Check out this one - first time I`ve seen a Viper with the new rack Laughing

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5642158

Unit is 57WG 16WS

Cool !

Safetystick wrote:

Or you could just get get an EGBU-12 and not need the JDAM's at all Razz

But yes, The Smart Rack can carry mixed store loads and as its based on the BRU-33, it can carry dual GBU-12 (Smart Rack was offered to the RAF as part of the PGB contract and thus had to be capable of carrying two GBU-12 style weapons)

Hey thanks. I kinda thought so but not being the expert, etc etc....I might have been able to look it up, but why bother when I have the world class experts on this forum.

Smile

Although the rack itself is designed to carry dumb weapons, current USAF F-16 mechanizations don't allow dumb bombs on the BRU-57.

Thank you for posting the hot photo link, Boman!

In an interview for "Code One Magazine" (published as part of the "Enduring Freedom Debrief", third quarter 2002 online issue), Lt. Col. Monty, an F-16CJ pilot, stated: "We would have loved to have the BRU-57 bomb rack, which allows us to carry four CBU-103 per aircraft instead of two. That capability will come with the CCIP mod."

I have some urgent questions to your load-out experts, related to my upcoming fact file for the new F-16.net section "F-16 Combat History":

- During OEF´s main combat phase (October 2001 – April 2002) the standard load-out for F-16CJs, deployed to Al Udeid AB, Qatar, were either two GBU-31 JDAMs or two of the brand new Wind Corrected Munitions Dispensers (WCMDs, in this case modernized CBU-103s). What are the designations for the used pylons and bomb racks?

- For some missions over Afghanistan F-16CJs from the same deployed units carried 2x2 CBU-87. What are the designations for the used pylons and bomb racks?

- Especially for "Road Recce" missions (conducted about a week-long) flight lead F-16CJs from these units carried one WCMD and one Maverick to test if they would give a better sensor capability (the wingman´s aircraft carried either two JDAMs or two WCMDs). By designations, which pylon and which rail were used to launch the Maverick? Was the Maverick on station 3 or on station 7? And which Maverick version was used?

- The standard load-out for F-16C+, deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, and dual tasked with OSW and OEF missions, were 2x2 500-pound GBU-12s slant-mounted on TERs on stations 3/7 for OEF missions. Is there any regime for dropping such a load (as a sample: bellow bombs at first? One from left, the next from right, or so?)?

- Maj. Elrod, a pilot from the 419th FW, also deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber AB, explained that he dropped two 2,000-pound bombs over Afghanistan. Anyone who knows which bombs were carried for this mission?

I would be very grateful for any professional support.

hey ELP....--Can you put a GBU-12 on it? I have never seen it mentioned in any of the public consumption stuff. Reason I ask is that 2 GBU38 and 2 GBU12 would be a nice, set up for ops like today. It will be a long time before we have a dual sensor PGM kit as everyday, available issue. ---

yes you could put 2 gbu-12's on it but why, configurations in use today involve a ter on one side with a slant load of gbu-12's and a rbu on the other side with 38's or whatever else they want

<i>yes you could put 2 gbu-12's on it</i>
No, you can't. The aircraft OFP won't currently recognize dumb bombs on the BRU-57. If the aircraft can't communicate with the store on the rack, it assumes the store has failed and won't launch. (To be completely fair, you COULD put GBUs on the rack, but you wouldn't be able to use them as anything other than kinetic energy weapons by doing a selective jettison.)