Wingman GBU-39 Employment
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The GBU-39 has be the best air to ground weapon in BMS. I typically set the steer points for pre planned targets and then load them in the data cartridge.
I load my wingman and my element, if necessary, with HARMS. All jets in the flight carry the HTS pod. As I am ingressing I use the HAD to design SAM radars and then order my wingman or element to attack them. Then I proceed to drop all 8 GBU-39s on the erector/launchers. If there are one or two targets I could use the FCR or TGP to designate the target and pass them off to my wingman or element to attack - attack my targets. I’d like to have my wingman get in on the fun and start using the GBU-39s.
But how I do that with 8? I believe you only can set steer points for your jet. Can I use the weapon delivery planner? Any suggestions?
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For multiple targets you can just give your wingman/element/flight the “Attack Targets” order which should instruct the AI to release a weapon, pick a new target and release another weapon and so on until all weapons are gone or until he gets too close to the targets area. Of course that for each wingman wtih 8 bombs you will probably see some duplicates, so maybe a better strategy would be to give them order to attack targets, let them release 2-3 weapons and then call them to rejoin, wait until all weapons hit targets (orbit in the meantime) and then repeat the procedure. This strategy won’t solve all duplicates but should reduce the numbers.
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For multiple targets you can just give your wingman/element/flight the “Attack Targets” order which should instruct the AI to release a weapon, pick a new target and release another weapon and so on until all weapons are gone or until he gets too close to the targets area. Of course that for each wingman wtih 8 bombs you will probably see some duplicates, so maybe a better strategy would be to give them order to attack targets, let them release 2-3 weapons and then call them to rejoin, wait until all weapons hit targets (orbit in the meantime) and then repeat the procedure. This strategy won’t solve all duplicates but should reduce the numbers.
That’s what I wanted to avoid - duplicates. Not that I am complaining but the GBU-39 is too accurate of a weapon. Too many targets to hand off. Another option might be to create 16 weapon steer points at two different locations - say two SAM battalions. Hose one site then have you wingman take the second one with the attack targets command. The last mission I flew in the Korea campaign the SAM radars didn’t even come up for my wingman carrying HARMS to destroy them. I took out the radars and erector/launchers with the GBU-39s. Again, not that I am complaining. But it would be a good feature to be able to create separate weapon steer points for your flight.
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Well, technically you have the option to save in a given .ini file at least 32 Target STPTs (1-24, let’s assume 12-13 are for flight, and you have also 81-100 to use) so basically if you care to spend sometime planning in the UI map before the flight, you can setup targets for all your flight’s SDBs.
BTW, I usually take 1 wingman with me and go with 8 SDBs each to hunt 16 stationary SAM Radars only, then later I’m taking out the launchers in a separate mission (JSOW usually, but you can also go with CBUs or GBU-12s).
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Well, technically you have the option to save in a given .ini file at least 32 Target STPTs (1-24, let’s assume 12-13 are for flight, and you have also 81-100 to use) so basically if you care to spend sometime planning in the UI map before the flight, you can setup targets for all your flight’s SDBs.
BTW, I usually take 1 wingman with me and go with 8 SDBs each to hunt 16 stationary SAM Radars only, then later I’m taking out the leeaunchers in a separate mission (JSOW usually, but you can also go with CBUs or GBU-12s).
I thought about doing that but wasn’t sure how quickly AI would be able to go through the target list. I didn’t want to wait for my wingman when I know I could drop all 8 pretty quickly and egress.
If my target steer point starts at STPT 12 then I assume I give the command “attack targets” as soon as I set 12 as my next STPT. Should I wait to Jiz to show on the HUD? Will my wingman then proceed to drop on STPT 12-20?
I assume after I give my wingman the “attack targets” command that I then switch to STPT 21/81 and then start dropping my bombs.
Thanks,
Blain -
No… there is no way to tell your wingman to attack targets 1 by 1, unless you micro manage them, i.e you have STPTs saved and you tell your wingman to “attack target” while your SPI is on the target.
