Solved BLU-107s hit short in U3?
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@LorikEolmin Since my latest durandal tests end of 2022 for sure something changed. Or not.
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@Micro_440th I would agree. Our wing qualifications include a low alt attack using the BLU107s in CCIP and when I flew it back in Feb of 23 on version 4.36 it seemed to work as expected.
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What is the prescribed window of AGL alt and speed, to drop these? Not seeing it in the -34 … that might be useful to add.
I did a quick test and it looks like higher and/or faster seems to result in an initial impact closer to CCRP aimpoint.
What tactic do people employ with these? For CCIP … is the idea simply to target the middle of the runway and let half the bombs ripple down on either side? With a spacing of, say, 500 ft?
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No there are no weapon release parameter in the -34. Good idea though. I will add a general section.
Durandels can be used all between 200-1000ft. Ccip/Ccrp. Spacing as desired. Speed is life, 500+ kts
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@Micro_440th ikr … the Durandal is simultaneously one of the coolest but most ridiculous weapon systems. developed before the age of the manpad, and radar-guided aaa, I suppose.
wikipedia mentions deployment speed up to 630 kts … but that might be for F-111 … seems likely F-16 or F-15 would have used a lower deployment speed
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@airtex2019 Durandal has been designed for french fighters (mainly Mirage F1 in mind attack profile like 200ftAGL/600+Kts), but not deployed in French Air Force (the chosen runway bomb has been the BAP100 with same attack profile for Jaguar, Mirage F1 and M2000)
It has eventually been deployed by USAF, but at that time, only the F-111 was able to follow the attack profile this munition has been designed for.
And, even with modern manpad of radar guided AAA, an aircraft flying at 600Kts below 200ft is quite safe.
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@airtex2019 said in BLU-107s hit short in U3?:
@Micro_440th ikr … the Durandal is simultaneously one of the coolest but most ridiculous weapon systems. developed before the age of the manpad, and radar-guided aaa, I suppose.
It most certainly is not that old
Agreed about the ‘coolest’ part!
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@Micro_440th yup i used them this summer in the training program and they sure did work pretty sure they is a video lurking somewhere and i know there was some pix of bda too but yes it worked. Hawg
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We experienced the same behavior here with our team last week. I know it worked well in BMS 4.35 when we were ranking for a championship.
For the BLU-107, we need to fly low and fast (>550 Kts) to be effective.
Also, since many runways are 8,000 feet or more in length, would it be possible to adjust the “impact spacing” > 999FT in a future version as is the case for a CBU-87 (i.e. 0 TO 9999FT)? That way, we will be able to drop 6 x BLU-107b all over one runway.
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@TOPOLO said in BLU-107s hit short in U3?:
And, even with modern manpad of radar guided AAA, an aircraft flying at 600Kts below 200ft is quite safe.
yeeeees? no. And “TOR” your arse goodbye before even master arm on. Forget about aaa and manpad ONLY , we’re in 21st ct.
Speed is life, range is surviving. -
@white_fang I don’t know, is it within the weapons system capabilities, yes. But unless it’s a completely automated system like CIWS, the human reaction time at those speeds to employ the capable systems gets shakey. Unless it’s a completely flat area, exposure time is probably under a minute. Even with everything ready to go, a good portion of that time will be getting the systems to bare and even more so the less experienced and trained the crews are. A well coordinated attack without SEAD/DEAD would involve pretty similar TOT with different angles of approach.
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@Snake122 said in BLU-107s hit short in U3?:
But unless it’s a completely automated system like CIWS
All of newer systems are, fully automated. Even some older ones, exactly for the reason. For example “Aegis”.
Operator just need to “allow” release(s) … after that , all is automatic.
Of course stuff like that was never covered in open “public” games/sims - not sure about that “SAM simulator” - how advanced it is.How do you think “Iron Dome” engages barrages of mortars and rockets? / there’s hundreds of operators manually tracking single rounds ? Give it a thought. eh
But, back to the program., fast and low tactics is from the age of SA-6 (KUB) … after SA-11 (BUK) that kind of show off was over. SAM’s evolved pretty fast in AESA age. (real multiple target track and engage).
Today, until you’ve dealt with SAM cover anything is pretty much suicide, anyway.