Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

Just a general thread on the topic.

I thought this article interesting. My guess on it, is not a shortage of JDAM in general but a shortage of just-in-time supply stuff. ( guessing .... and I have no "need to know", the real answer if it is something else )

The GBU-38 JDAM and GBU-12 Paveway being the weapon of choice given the other post in the general section on recent ops. Another "guess" is there is plenty of 2000lb JDAM stuff around, just that there isn't a combat use of it in great numbers given the current style of combat on-going. It's a good thing, when the enemy decides to hold up in a building. Solves a lot of problems --- EP

----

via UPI

U.S. reports JDAMS shortage in Iraq
Baghdad | November 29, 2005 12:01:13 AM IST

The increased use of Joint Direct Attack Munitions against the Iraqi insurgency is creating a shortage of such precision-guided weaponry for the U.S. military.

The shortage is the result of the campaign against Sunni insurgency strongholds in the Anbar province, the Middle East Newsline reports. The military faced similar concerns in November 2004 after the offensive in Fallujah.

The JDAMs are used to convert bombs that range from 500 to 2,000 pounds into precision guided weapons. They are used where collateral damage is a concern or to penetrate concrete bunkers 4 to 6 feet thick.

The newest JDAM weapon in the Marine Corps arsenal is the 500-pound GBU-38, which has become the preferred precision guided munitions for fixed wing aircraft in the urban close air support environment, the report said.

Officials said it produces the smallest amount of collateral damage and can be used in all weather conditions.

(UPI)

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This is really getting into trivia but kind interesting about manufacture stuff. Even a mention of "LEAN". Twisted Evil

http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/view_pr ... p?rID=9605

Good article on the 1stEMS and the GBU-32 ( I hope this means someday they get the GBU-35 ( BLU-110 ) Cool

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,79511,00.html

If you find them, post JDAM "falstaties" ( stuff that ain't true, that you see in the media or press releases about JDAM of course opsec applies ) ... Here is a good one on the new APG-79 radar re: JDAM.

Quote:

The JDAM "Smart Weapon" uses the APG-79 AESA radar to provide precise targeting coordinates. The pilot uses a high resolution SAR (synthetic aperture radar) image to identify the intended target. The target is designated from the image; the target coordinates are passed to the JDAM weapon; the weapon is released and flies under GPS navigation to impact, thus completing the kill chain. Prior to the introduction of the APG-79 radar, it has only been possible for pre-mission planned ground targets to be attacked. Now, with the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) APG-79, real time, time sensitive ground targets can be identified and engaged.

http://finanzen.net/news/news_detail.asp?NewsNr=346955

Not true. Many targets of opportunity have been hit by JDAM. Name it. The list is long. Including if you don't have time to type and can see it, you can drop it like dumb iron not using the guidance ( know of at least 1 example where this happened )....

Also the article leads you to believe that JDAM attacks have never been done before "refining" the target cord with radar on the dropping jet. For some time now... when possible.... B-2 and B-1 have used radar refinement on the bomb run, then, pump that better coordinate into the weapon before release. And I sat in on a public consumption briefing by some B-1 pukes a few years back right after they got BLOCK D ( the upgrade to B-1 that gave it initial JDAM ability )... the accuracy of a radar refined JDAM attack ( when possible ), is stunning. So the APG-79 article thingy above is just using much better avionics. How nice. Laughing

When is the SDB going operational?

habu2 wrote:

When is the SDB going operational?

I thought it was in OTE now, or am I completely full of crap?

Last edited by blk40crewdawg on Apr 11, 2006 - 10:24 PM; edited 1 time in total

we keep dropping them faster than they build them...

First Super-sonic JDAM release from the F-22 at Edwards. No more shapes. This used the real kit to guide to a target.

More here;

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123013471

Kinda interesting. News on GBU-38 integration for the Korean F-15K....
Thought the people with tool belts, funny flight line vehicles and muscles would find this interesting trivia.

Cool

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/200 ... 6d_nr.html

This is kind of "old news" but it is the 80 JDAM, GBU-38 drop from the B-2. Accuracy is "good enough".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl_-dzb2HP0

This is a really good bomb building story off of the USAF site.

This is one of the more fun things to watch if you ever get the chance.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123087393

How to build a bomb

by Tech. Sgt. James Law
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

We dropped 4 big uns last year to scare some Sunnis, I think near a dirt bridge, if I recall.

LASER-JDAM combat drop with the F-16.

http://www.f-16.net/news_article3024.html

This very useful PGM kit is now available for use.... in it's USAF-500lb Mk82/BLU-111 form known as GBU-54....

Be nice when we get to the day when PGM logistics becomes easier (less kinds of things that have to be deployed at a forward base) Hats off to the load crews.

Pardon me while I cast 'Resurrect Thread'.

I was reading the below story on AF.mil and was wondering about a certain conditional use of the GBU-54.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123224886

It's my understanding that this weapon will switch over from laser to GPS guidance in the event the laser spot is lost en route to the target.

Suppose our intrepid Viper driver sees his/her laser aimpoint is, for whatever reason, too close to either friendly forces or civilians and tries to steer the weapon away from the original aimpoint. In the excitement of the moment, the pilot steers the laser designator too fast and the weapon loses the spot. The weapon would now revert back to it's original aimpoint to the chagrin our the danger close friendlies, would it not?

Is there some way, other than training to be careful while lasing, to over-ride it's homing instincts in flight?

Is my understanding of seeker mode incorrect in that it's either or, not both once the weapon is away?

That's a good question. I would think it wouldn't revert to the original spot, but the last time it saw the laser (which would have been moving in your scenario).

I think it would be pretty hard for it to lose the laser altogether- it's designed for moving targets after all.

Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

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