ShaunBD Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Can any confirm if the current F-15E load out for the Iraq ISIS operation is 5x BRU-61 with SDB's? I'm sure I read somewhere this is currently being loaded. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fulcrum1 Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Your best bet is to look for pictures. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Some pics here: http://www.afcent.af.mil/News/Photos.aspx?igsearch=F-15E you can make out some on the c/l as well. It's possible only on the first night they had 5 rack loads. Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ShaunBD Posted November 16, 2014 Author Share Posted November 16, 2014 (edited) Thanks for the link, will have a look. Do you know if the 494th have aircraft in the operation? Edited November 16, 2014 by ShaunBD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B2Blain Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Five seems a bit much. I could be wrong. Maybe three at the most. That's twelve SDBs. That might even be overkill. You would think you want to carry other weapons that are suited for other targets - GBU-12 or GBU-38. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle801 Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Five racks would be a valid load out. They actually can carry a total of seven...One on each corner CFT station, one on the C/L station, and one on each wing pylon. I would seriously doubt that would be used in combat, but it is theoretically possible. I'm honestly not sure what they are carrying right now. It's been a few years now, but the last time I talked to a Strike pilot, they were not using SDB's because of unpredictable flight paths...They never knew when the bomb was actually going to hit the target. They must've corrected that problem. Aaron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B2Blain Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Five seems a bit much. I could be wrong. Maybe three at the most. That's twelve SDBs. That might even be overkill. You would think you want to carry other weapons that are suited for other targets - GBU-12 or GBU-38. No meaning that the GBU-12 or 38 are better weapons. Just that unless you know you need twelve SDBs, you want to take a Swiss army kinife approach. Maybe carry one GBU-31 on the CL for a hardened target, a couple of BRU-61s, a couple of GBU-12/38s. Another factor that needs to be considered is that are you really going to have time to designate and drop bombs on twelve inididual targets before you need to leave enemy airspace and either head back to base or tank. There might be scenarios - early Enduring Freedom - when air assets were limited. Twelve or more SDBs would have been handy but would likely require the Strike Eagles to tank and then return. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spejic Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Another factor that needs to be considered is that are you really going to have time to designate and drop bombs on twelve inididual targets Given the videos we have seen, it is likely that you can drop multiple SDBs in a pattern around a single designated target. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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