GBU-53
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Hello,
Has anyone more info about how to properly employ the GBU-53 ?
I tried to use it against moving targets, a column of tanks, but with no luck, AI too wasn’t able to target the tanks.
What i would like to have is the limitations of that weapon and if it is fire and forget ? I see that there is some sort of IR pointer in the nose, do you have to Illuminate the target with laser ? Once you have designated a target via the TGP and you are in track mode, do you have to keep it like that while the weapon is flying to the target or can you brake lock and fire another one ?
What is the permissible fire envelope with regards to the nose of the airplane ? I know a lot of questions but kinda essential since it is not really the same as a GBu-39.
Thanks in advance.
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-53 would only be FandF in GPS mode against static targets. To hit movers you need to lase the target (and of course enable the laser guidance LAFTER on the bomb), just like you would with a -12 or similar.
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50 series LJDAM is dual mode so it will act as a JDAM or additionally have terminal laser which can be enabled. Laser-guidance updates the INS solution for moving target capability. If laser guidance is lost then the bomb guides toward the last spot illuminated which would miss a moving target.
Launch envelope should be similar to GBU-38 standard JDAM which is mild glide capability for probably 5-10nm from typical launch parameters.
GBU-39 has wings so range is much better at maybe 20nm or so.
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Launch envelope should be similar to GBU-38 standard JDAM which is mild glide capability for probably 5-10nm from typical launch parameters.
GBU-39 has wings so range is much better at maybe 20nm or so.
GBU-53 is the SDBII (updates GBU-39 with added Laser capability). It’s a glide weapon.
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which plane can be used this weapon? F16?
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which plane can be used this weapon? F16?
Normally it is designed for F-35/F-22 and F-15E, but since the F-16 can carry GBU-39, i did edit the MLU to carry the GBU-53.
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-53 would only be FandF in GPS mode against static targets. To hit movers you need to lase the target (and of course enable the laser guidance LAFTER on the bomb), just like you would with a -12 or similar.
Thanks a lot !
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50 series LJDAM is dual mode so it will act as a JDAM or additionally have terminal laser which can be enabled. Laser-guidance updates the INS solution for moving target capability. If laser guidance is lost then the bomb guides toward the last spot illuminated which would miss a moving target.
Launch envelope should be similar to GBU-38 standard JDAM which is mild glide capability for probably 5-10nm from typical launch parameters.
GBU-39 has wings so range is much better at maybe 20nm or so.
Thanks a lot !
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Hi again,
I ran my TE again, and same results, it was a Fourship of Belgian MLU’s and we attacked a column of T-90’s.
I attacked the targets at medium altitude, 10 000 feet and i faced the tanks when attacking. I went into point track mode, or should i go in area track mode and just lead the tank with my crosshairs ?
I made sure i was between 8 and 10 nm out, i tried two options, lasing as soon as i release, that made the GBU-53 go some place not related to the target are. L was flashing, i was in Combat mode. Then i tried activating the laser only 12s from impact, which made the weapon fall short all the time. ( any input of a proper lasing time ?) I also made sure that at no time during the firing of the laser that there was no interruption (clouds).
My observation is that unlike a LJDAM/ GBU-54, on your SMS page, when you go into the submenu CONTROL, there is no second page which commands the weapon to activate it’s laser tracker. So either i am mistaken but for now it seems that the GBU-53 is good against fixed targets only and that maybe it is still WIP.
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GBU-53 is the SDBII (updates GBU-39 with added Laser capability). It’s a glide weapon.
Of course. I was speaking of GBU-54 LJDAM and not GBU-53 SDB II (current name StormBreaker). I didn’t know it is even present in BMS. SDB II of course will be kinematically similar or even identical to SDB I plus have the multi-mode terminal guidance options (laser, MMWR, IIR, DL-GPS-INS). It is so complicated that I doubt BMS fully models its function.
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Of course. I was speaking of GBU-54 LJDAM and not GBU-53 SDB II (current name StormBreaker). I didn’t know it is even present in BMS. SDB II of course will be kinematically similar or even identical to SDB I plus have the multi-mode terminal guidance options (laser, MMWR, IIR, DL-GPS-INS). It is so complicated that I doubt BMS fully models its function.
It is in there, but it is working like a GBU-39, for now. If anyone cares to test a bit more, you are welcome to share your results.
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The LJDAM works perfectly and i have dropped dozens against both mobiles and statics. Make sure however that you set them to laser mode on all hardpoints AND on all bombs. Otherwise while you may think you have them on laser (because you set just one) you will find yourself missing against mobiles. Also, the AI treats the LJDAM as regular jdam and drops it in multiples in GPS mode. That works great against statics but they always miss against mobiles. For me, this bomb is the perfect interdiction weapon. If my target is static, i drop 4 of them in 1 pass and get 4 vehicles. If they are mobile, no prob, switch to laser and make 4 bombing passes.
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@Master:
The LJDAM works perfectly and i have dropped dozens against both mobiles and statics. Make sure however that you set them to laser mode on all hardpoints AND on all bombs. Otherwise while you may think you have them on laser (because you set just one) you will find yourself missing against mobiles. Also, the AI treats the LJDAM as regular jdam and drops it in multiples in GPS mode. That works great against statics but they always miss against mobiles. For me, this bomb is the perfect interdiction weapon. If my target is static, i drop 4 of them in 1 pass and get 4 vehicles. If they are mobile, no prob, switch to laser and make 4 bombing passes.
God points there, but we are not talking about the same thing.
You are talking about GBU-54, i am talking about GBU-53/B SDB.
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Hi again,
I ran my TE again, and same results, it was a Fourship of Belgian MLU’s and we attacked a column of T-90’s.
I attacked the targets at medium altitude, 10 000 feet and i faced the tanks when attacking. I went into point track mode, or should i go in area track mode and just lead the tank with my crosshairs ?
I made sure i was between 8 and 10 nm out, i tried two options, lasing as soon as i release, that made the GBU-53 go some place not related to the target are. L was flashing, i was in Combat mode. Then i tried activating the laser only 12s from impact, which made the weapon fall short all the time. ( any input of a proper lasing time ?) I also made sure that at no time during the firing of the laser that there was no interruption (clouds).
My observation is that unlike a LJDAM/ GBU-54, on your SMS page, when you go into the submenu CONTROL, there is no second page which commands the weapon to activate it’s laser tracker. So either i am mistaken but for now it seems that the GBU-53 is good against fixed targets only and that maybe it is still WIP.
I’m not 100% certain about GBU-53’s envelope, but with anything laser guided, the more time, the better! So I would honestly try flying above 20,000 feet and setting the “laser start time” to 20 seconds. This just gives the weapon more time to lock onto to the laser. Also, since SDB’s are considered stand-off weapons, find a friend to fly multiplayer with and let him “buddy laze” for you. This way you can stand-off 20+ miles and pickle an SDB from relative safety. (Not so much for your buddy of course…but then that’s why he’s a “buddy”.) :mrgreen:
Cheers,
Jolly -
Thanks Jolly for the input, but like i wrote, i tried to lase from the beginning on, no luck either. It was more than 20s.
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Thanks Jolly for the input, but like i wrote, i tried to lase from the beginning on, no luck either. It was more than 20s.
In the editor, SDB v1 and the V2 are the same, so they have bomb GPS and ‘IR’ as guidance. Perhaps they need to be edited to include ‘visual’ as guidance type much like the -54 to make it work?
It’s also ID’d as a GPS weapon and not LJDAM in another tab…
Not necessarily recommending as it might ruin the ‘integrity check’, just a thought as to why they won’t track post launch.
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Nope, that wont work, for code limitation reasons.
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Nope, that wont work, for code limitation reasons.
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You should be able to ID it the same way as the -54 is now as it has it’s own identifier now from the looks of it?
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You should be able to ID it the same way as the -54 is now as it has it’s own identifier now from the looks of it?
I’m telling you : that will not work. In the code, right now, the SDB is considered a missile and the LJDAM a bomb, and their guidance code is separate.
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@canuck Hello. I also have same question and I surf the web and I see your posting.
I think it has some limitation about launching. I set GBU53’s mode from IR to Laser in editor but it doesn’t work. And I find GBU39 has visual guidance and 53 has IR guidance in editor. I think GBU 53 has no traking guidance against moving target. It just dummy I think.