Jump to content

Recommended Posts

They used the RBL-755 which had sensors between the body and fins (the tan items in the pic) so they could be dropped from higher altitudes since the regular BL-755 was a low altitude weapon:

 

rbl-755_138.jpg

 

Jari

Link to post
Share on other sites

Finn-

 

Nice photo - thank you for sharing it!

 

Off-topic notes on the AIM-9 for those with serious ordnance AMS: The body is still white at this late date (think US stocks of white Sidewinders would have been gone by then), and the guidance section has the red-brown band on it. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

The brown band on the seeker head indicates low order explosive, inside is a small squib, of course not all Sidewinders have the brown band as some countries choose not to add it as it is a small charge. Low order explosives are things that burn rapidly, like rocket motors, rather than explode. You can see those same brown bands on the seeker heads of LGBs as well for the most part:

 

mfc-dual-mode-plus-photo-03-h-1024x542.j

 

Jari

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yellow is normally the indicator of live rounds whether missiles or bombs, while blue are inert. 

The brown stripe indicates where the rocket engine and/or seaker/guidance kit is.  

http://www.twobobs.net/contents/en-us/p354.html 

 

In today's environment with JDAMs, the yellow stripe is often hidden under the JDAM kit installed on the bombs. 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yellow is for high explosives, things that go boom. You'll note in the pic of the RBL-755 it has a black band around the nose, just in front of the yellow one, the black indicates anti-armour.

 

Jari

Link to post
Share on other sites

Isn't the brown band on the guidance section only found on European made sidewinders?  I believe it's there to mark the presence of the cooling gass for the seeker head. 

Edited by achterkirch
Link to post
Share on other sites

The Winder in the photo has both Red-Brown bands, one at the front on the seeker head, and one just barely visible under the RBF, to mark the Low Explosive rocket motor.

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, achterkirch said:

Isn't the brown band on the guidance section only found on European made sidewinders?  I believe it's there to mark the presence of the cooling gass for the seeker head. 

 

The forward fins are driven by a gas generator, which is why the band is there on European manufactured missiles.  U.S. manufactured missiles don't have the brown band even though they use a gas generator too.

 

Regards,

Murph

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...