Vaildog Posted May 1, 2018 Share Posted May 1, 2018 (edited) When did the LAU-128 enter the USAF inventory. Would pre AIM-9X sidewinders be compatable with them? thanks Edited May 1, 2018 by Vaildog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted May 1, 2018 Share Posted May 1, 2018 My understanding is that they can be used with AIM-9L/M and, of course, AIM-120 missiles. The LAU-127 is used by the Navy. The USAF uses the LAU-128. Slight differences I think. Someone else will have more details I am sure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Exgbuloader Posted May 1, 2018 Share Posted May 1, 2018 Hello, Yes, the generation of Sidewinders (L/M) prior to the X will work on the 128s. The F-15 family utilizes the 128, the Hornet uses the 127, and the F-16 uses the 129. Any older Sidewinders would have used older launchers prior to the 120 generation of launchers. Hope this helps. Pat, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vaildog Posted May 2, 2018 Author Share Posted May 2, 2018 4 hours ago, Exgbuloader said: Hello, Yes, the generation of Sidewinders (L/M) prior to the X will work on the 128s. The F-15 family utilizes the 128, the Hornet uses the 127, and the F-16 uses the 129. Any older Sidewinders would have used older launchers prior to the 120 generation of launchers. Hope this helps. Pat, Would mid 80s F-15s have had the LAU-128s? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Crash Test Dummy Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 59 minutes ago, Vaildog said: Would mid 80s F-15s have had the LAU-128s? Probably not. AIM-120 wasn't flown operationally until Desert Storm in 1991, so no reason to mount LAU-128s until then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
achterkirch Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Vaildog said: Would mid 80s F-15s have had the LAU-128s? No they didnt have them then. The F-15 just had the original ones then. Edited May 2, 2018 by achterkirch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle801 Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, Vaildog said: Would mid 80s F-15s have had the LAU-128s? As near as I can tell, the LAU-128 entered the F-15 community after Desert Storm. All photos I have seen from DS show AIM-120's (which were in short supply at the time) mounted on the fuselage hardpoints. I would say somewhere between 95-97 is when they first were used. F-15E's were using them in 1999 during Allied Force, but typically they would only carry two LAU-128's and two LAU-114's (AIM-9L/M compatible only) because they were still being produced in small numbers and priority went to the fighters. This being the case, it seems likely that the fighters had been using them for a few years already. And yes, as was already stated, the -128 is compatible with the AIM-9L/M and X and ACMI pods, as well as the AIM-120. Edited May 2, 2018 by strikeeagle801 More info Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 LAU-128/129's were introduced just after Dessert Storm in 1991, initially only for AIM-120 carriage. Later this evolved to include all types of AIM-9's too. This is also a bit unit-dependant, as different unit got it at different times. Which unit are you looking for initially? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 7 hours ago, strikeeagle801 said: As near as I can tell, the LAU-128 entered the F-15 community after Desert Storm. All photos I have seen from DS show AIM-120's (which were in short supply at the time) mounted on the fuselage hardpoints. I would say somewhere between 95-97 is when they first were used. F-15E's were using them in 1999 during Allied Force, but typically they would only carry two LAU-128's and two LAU-114's (AIM-9L/M compatible only) because they were still being produced in small numbers and priority went to the fighters. This being the case, it seems likely that the fighters had been using them for a few years already. And yes, as was already stated, the -128 is compatible with the AIM-9L/M and X and ACMI pods, as well as the AIM-120. Hmmmm...I’m not sure AIM-120s we’re used in DS. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle801 Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Falconxlvi said: Hmmmm...I’m not sure AIM-120s we’re used in DS. They were carried late in DS1. None were fired. Aaron EDIT: Just to be clear, the photos I looked at last night in regards to AIM-120's were not that great...I do freely admit they may have been AIM-7's. I'm going off of what I read online and in the Osprey "In Combat" books that says that AIM-120's were carried at some point during DS. As for the original question, I can say 100% that the LAU-128 was not introduced til AFTER DS1, and, like I stated, they did not reach the Strike Eagle community in large numbers til the late 90's/early 2000's. Edited May 2, 2018 by strikeeagle801 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 2 hours ago, strikeeagle801 said: They were carried late in DS1. None were fired. Aaron EDIT: Just to be clear, the photos I looked at last night in regards to AIM-120's were not that great...I do freely admit they may have been AIM-7's. I'm going off of what I read online and in the Osprey "In Combat" books that says that AIM-120's were carried at some point during DS. As for the original question, I can say 100% that the LAU-128 was not introduced til AFTER DS1, and, like I stated, they did not reach the Strike Eagle community in large numbers til the late 90's/early 2000's. Interesting. I did a couple of web searches and found a few sources that support the “carried, but not used” claim. I’ll have to do more research on this one. Mostly, I’m curious as to why they weren’t used?! Thanks for the info. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 The AIM-120's were flown only the very last few days before the end of Dessert Storm hence carried but not used. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
clevzy Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 (edited) Hello, very interesting post Does anybody have photos of AIM-120 in Desert Storm? If I understand it right the AIM120 is carried on LAU-114 in Desert Storm? The only squadron AMRAAM used in ODS was the 58th TFS from Eglin I only know 1 photo in combat and it´s hard to see what kind of rail it is Greetings Edited April 23, 2019 by clevzy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Benner Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 (edited) I've been building Desert Storm models for quite a while and have been researching along the way .. -No F-15E Strike Eagles had the LAU-128 -only the 58th TFS, 33rd TFW received the AIM-120 to use towards the end of the war, none were fired in combat. Why the 58th? .. probably because they were the ones with the most air-to-air kills. Keep In mind, the air-to-air kills towards the end were of Iraqi aircraft fleeing to Iran. educated guess for the rest .. an expert like Murph can correct me -The LAU-114 can not fire the AIM-120 -the 58th TFS and the 53rd TFS, (4thTFW(P) at Al Kharg) were equipped with the LAU-128. Besides the LAU-128 having a more blunt front end, you can also tell the difference by how long the adaptor is between the launcher and the wing pylon. some pics .. No ALQ-135 antenna on the nose so this is likely a 53rd TFS Eagle. https://nara.getarchive.net/media/ground-crewmen-move-a-weapons-skid-after-securing-an-external-fuel-tank-to-23e24b Saudi F-15C and 1st TFW F-15C with LAU-114, has a long adaptor going past the end of the missile. https://picryl.com/media/a-1st-tactical-fighter-wing-f-15c-eagle-aircraft-and-an-f-15c-of-the-13th-squadron-3a2134 post war photo of 58th TFS plane with LAU-128, has a shorter adaptor Edited April 23, 2019 by Benner Quote Link to post Share on other sites
madmanrick Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 On 5/2/2018 at 10:14 AM, Falconxlvi said: Mostly, I’m curious as to why they weren’t used?! I believe by the end of DS, there were not many Iraqi fighters airborne to engage. Most of the kills late in DS were on helicopters. The last kill coming on 15 Feb. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 It's been discussed a couple of times in various forums, but in short the AIM-120A was introduced very late in DS1 and non were fired. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
adamitri Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 On 5/2/2018 at 7:07 AM, strikeeagle801 said: They were carried late in DS1. None were fired. Aaron EDIT: Just to be clear, the photos I looked at last night in regards to AIM-120's were not that great...I do freely admit they may have been AIM-7's. I'm going off of what I read online and in the Osprey "In Combat" books that says that AIM-120's were carried at some point during DS. As for the original question, I can say 100% that the LAU-128 was not introduced til AFTER DS1, and, like I stated, they did not reach the Strike Eagle community in large numbers til the late 90's/early 2000's. Alaskan Strike Eagles had 2 LAU-128's per each a/c in 1993. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle801 Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 3 hours ago, adamitri said: Alaskan Strike Eagles had 2 LAU-128's per each a/c in 1993. Okay. Still does not counter what I said...They were not used by the Strike Eagle community in large numbers til later. By Operation Allied Force, the LN Strikes were still only carrying two per aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
adamitri Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 36 minutes ago, strikeeagle801 said: Okay. Still does not counter what I said...They were not used by the Strike Eagle community in large numbers til later. By Operation Allied Force, the LN Strikes were still only carrying two per aircraft. Wasnt trying to counter anything. Just stating a fact. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
clevzy Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 On 5/2/2018 at 5:41 AM, Crash Test Dummy said: Probably not. AIM-120 wasn't flown operationally until Desert Storm in 1991, so no reason to mount LAU-128s until then. I´ve read the AIM120A was introduced in 1989 by the 33rd TFW. In the book "Sharing Eagles" (by Jerry Scutts, ISBN 0600 568 27x) is a pic of a pair of F-15C (86--0174 and 0173) with AIM120 and LAU128. This book was published in 1990 before Desert Storm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
clevzy Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 On 4/24/2019 at 12:59 AM, Benner said: I've been building Desert Storm models for quite a while and have been researching along the way .. -No F-15E Strike Eagles had the LAU-128 -only the 58th TFS, 33rd TFW received the AIM-120 to use towards the end of the war, none were fired in combat. Why the 58th? .. probably because they were the ones with the most air-to-air kills. Keep In mind, the air-to-air kills towards the end were of Iraqi aircraft fleeing to Iran. educated guess for the rest .. an expert like Murph can correct me -The LAU-114 can not fire the AIM-120 -the 58th TFS and the 53rd TFS, (4thTFW(P) at Al Kharg) were equipped with the LAU-128. Besides the LAU-128 having a more blunt front end, you can also tell the difference by how long the adaptor is between the launcher and the wing pylon. some pics .. No ALQ-135 antenna on the nose so this is likely a 53rd TFS Eagle. https://nara.getarchive.net/media/ground-crewmen-move-a-weapons-skid-after-securing-an-external-fuel-tank-to-23e24b Saudi F-15C and 1st TFW F-15C with LAU-114, has a long adaptor going past the end of the missile. https://picryl.com/media/a-1st-tactical-fighter-wing-f-15c-eagle-aircraft-and-an-f-15c-of-the-13th-squadron-3a2134 post war photo of 58th TFS plane with LAU-128, has a shorter adaptor There´s no LAU-128, all 4 rails are LAU114. If you increase the pic you see Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BoeingDriver Posted April 28, 2019 Share Posted April 28, 2019 (edited) On 4/23/2019 at 2:08 PM, clevzy said: Hello, very interesting post Does anybody have photos of AIM-120 in Desert Storm? If I understand it right the AIM120 is carried on LAU-114 in Desert Storm? The only squadron AMRAAM used in ODS was the 58th TFS from Eglin I only know 1 photo in combat and it´s hard to see what kind of rail it is Greetings What year was this photo taken? I've seen it a million times and never noticed the 120. 120's can ONLY be carried on LAU-128's, so in this picture, there's a 128 on the inboard. This pic COULD be from a post DS1 sortie too. Northern or Southern Watch. Edited April 28, 2019 by BoeingDriver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
clevzy Posted April 28, 2019 Share Posted April 28, 2019 4 hours ago, BoeingDriver said: What year was this photo taken? I've seen it a million times and never noticed the 120. 120's can ONLY be carried on LAU-128's, so in this picture, there's a 128 on the inboard. This pic COULD be from a post DS1 sortie too. Northern or Southern Watch. https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/f-15-eagles-were-the-deadliest-birds-of-desert-storm/ https://nara.getarchive.net/media/a-58th-tactical-fighter-squadron-f-15-eagle-aircraft-banks-to-the-right-following-32a533 in both links it´s described as ODS Sortie the Scene Camera Operator TECH. SGT. Fernando Serna published a few ODS pics like https://nara.getarchive.net/media/ground-crewmen-move-a-weapons-skid-after-securing-an-external-fuel-tank-to-23e24b https://nara.getarchive.net/media/sgt-bradley-russell-crew-chief-secures-capt-cesar-rodriguez-into-the-cockpit-b9ef14 33rd TFW left the Gulf at 12 april 1991 and went back in 1992 (Wikipedia), the photo of Serna was published in Dec 91. So I can imagine it was in that time. Sure, it´s no 100 proof. In the book "Debrief a complete history of U.S. aerial engagements 1981 to the present" by Craig Brown I found pictures of AMRAAMs on 58th Fighters in Desert Storm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
clevzy Posted April 28, 2019 Share Posted April 28, 2019 In this book are pictures of 85-0114, 85-0102 and 85-0100 carrying AIM120 during Desert Storm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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