Author Topic: Countries that use bombers (Read 1377 times)

Cypher · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2007, 09:07:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Serenity
My god this topic is depressing. I hope to fly 'Heavies' when I join USAF, but it seems that dream is falling out from under me... (The Heavies are all being retired )

The B-52 will still be in use into the 2040's

Serenity · « **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2007, 12:58:36 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Stoney74
Sorry, I assumed that since the B-52 crewmember association uses it to describe the plane, that it was ok. http://www.stratofortress.org

All heavy bombers can be referred to as BUFFs, but there is no single BUFF. The Big Ugly Fat F***er adjective can be applied to any large, ugly, fat aircraft. Just nitpicking.

devil956 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 02, 2007, 03:13:29 AM »

Serenity no worries the B-52 will be here for at least 30 more years.

AWwrgwy · « **Reply #18 on:** April 02, 2007, 11:00:27 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Serenity
All heavy bombers can be referred to as BUFFs, but there is no single BUFF. The Big Ugly Fat F***er adjective can be applied to any large, ugly, fat aircraft. Just nitpicking.

I've always thought THE "BUFF" moniker refered to the B-52 originally and has since been retrofitted to all bombers.

The A-7 is the SLUFF....

wrngway

gbleck · « **Reply #19 on:** April 04, 2007, 12:15:01 AM »

It's the only BUFF in service with the us armed forces. The bone is still in service and will likely be for some time but yea the B-52 will probly out last it. I would call the B-2 dead before the B-1 though. The B-2 isn't precission weapons capable. Only near precision. Designed to lob nukes with out geting spoted so it didn't have to have laser guided munitions.

RTR · « **Reply #20 on:** April 04, 2007, 12:27:26 AM »

Strategic bombing is going the way of the Dodo. Actually it's pretty much gone that way a few years back.

Technology available today really doesn't leave it as a viable option tacticaly or economicaly.

The average "fighter" today, indeed in the last 20 years, is capable of putting more destructive tonnage on a target more accurately than any WWII era Bomber (or 50-60's era aircraft....notwithstanding the B52 which is really an aircraft without a mission now).

Anyway....Flame away.

cheers,
RTR

Stoney74 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 04, 2007, 01:29:34 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by gbleck
The B-2 isn't precission weapons capable. Only near precision. Designed to lob nukes with out geting spoted so it didn't have to have laser guided munitions.

I doubt this is a secret anymore, but...

First GPS guided bombs ever dropped in combat came from a B-2. IIRC, 2 of them carried 16X2000lb a piece, GPS guided bombs (JDAMs) on a strike against enemies of our nation. No need for lasers anymore--they're going the way of the Dodo as well

frank3 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 04, 2007, 07:01:21 AM »

We (Netherlands) had some 'big' bombers during WWII, to begin with the TV bomber (considered heavy during its time I believe) and the B-25 in late war (East Indies)

I doubt we have any bombers these days (instead of the F-16 that is)

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #23 on:** April 04, 2007, 02:16:41 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Serenity
All heavy bombers can be referred to as BUFFs, but there is no single BUFF. The Big Ugly Fat F***er adjective can be applied to any large, ugly, fat aircraft. Just nitpicking.

BUFF was a term originally used by B-52 pilots to describe the B-52. It has since become a common term to refer to heavy bombers but the origins is with the B-52.

Quote

With a 185-foot wingspan, a length of more than 160 feet and a gross weight of more than 480,000 pounds, the B-52 earned the nickname BUFF, short for Big Ugly Fat Fellow.

Source: Boeing

ack-ack

gbleck · « **Reply #24 on:** April 05, 2007, 04:21:28 PM »

I doubt this is a secret anymore, but...

First GPS guided bombs ever dropped in combat came from a B-2. IIRC, 2 of them carried 16X2000lb a piece, GPS guided bombs (JDAMs) on a strike against enemies of our nation. No need for lasers anymore--they're going the way of the Dodo as well .

GPS guided JDAMS are not designated as presission weapons. They are designated near pression. That said though yes with the joint munition series weapons the B2 has pleanty of great stuf to drop, launch or lob at all kinds of targets. Still though laser guided munitions will stay in the inventory as GPS guided munitions relly on the satalites being up. If the satalites are taken out or the frequencys they work on are jamed no more JDAMs or JSLAMs.

Stoney74 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 05, 2007, 11:05:14 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by gbleck
GPS guided JDAMS are not designated as presission weapons. They are designated near pression. That said though yes with the joint munition series weapons the B2 has pleanty of great stuf to drop, launch or lob at all kinds of targets. Still though laser guided munitions will stay in the inventory as GPS guided munitions relly on the satalites being up. If the satalites are taken out or the frequencys they work on are jamed no more JDAMs or JSLAMs.

My understanding is that with a 10 digit grid coordinate, you're looking at 1-meter accuracy. I don't know what the circular probability of error is for a JDAM guidance kit is, but from what I've seen, if the coordinates are accurate, the bomb smacks it. As for the laser-guided weapons, they aren't all weather, all climate, and require a designator. A B-2 won't typically have something lasing for it. In the tactical mission, lasers will still be used (Hellfire more specifically) and sure, they'll stay in service until we run out of kits, but the future is GPS guidance. Last, and this is a question, how do you jam GPS frequencies? The only technique I can think of is at the source--i.e. an enemy satellite that has an active jammer on those frequencies. You can't realistically jam at the target end, can you? We used to discuss this in my former life.

gbleck · « **Reply #26 on:** April 06, 2007, 09:45:16 AM »

Off the top of my head I think it's like 5m but I would have to look that up to be sure. Perhaps we should ask Kten. Dang good realy and for a 2000lb bomb good enough for almost any non moving target. Great for strategic bombing. Pre plan and take out all the C&C and lagistics targets at one sight in one pass. Defintly the primary weapon of choice and with the conversion kits a great buy.
As for jaming the signal you can do it at the source fairly simple. The people republic of north korea dosn't need GPS. They have nukes and the orbital capability to get one into orbit. That is all you need. Pop one off in orbit and the emp kills all satalites over the area. After that the residual interferance takes out the coms.
You may also be able to put out enough noise on the GPS timing signal chanels to make them non nomial. Not sure if it's been done yet. That's realy a question for the USAF space opfor dept.
I just think it's odd they didn't think to put a target laser on the B2 even though the F117 has one and is older. It realy was just made for strategic bombing not tactical. Not a real problem though as there are plenty of targets for it and with the F22 taking over the F117's role we still have that part of any strike pakage covered. Still the B2 will probly be pulled from service before the B52 gets retiered.

Anyone · « **Reply #27 on:** April 09, 2007, 01:46:19 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Serenity
My god this topic is depressing. I hope to fly 'Heavies' when I join USAF, but it seems that dream is falling out from under me... (The Heavies are all being retired )

you still playing dude?

Serenity · « **Reply #28 on:** April 11, 2007, 11:26:34 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
BUFF was a term originally used by B-52 pilots to describe the B-52. It has since become a common term to refer to heavy bombers but the origins is with the B-52.

Source: Boeing

ack-ack

If you give me a night or two, I will go through my references, but BUFF was used as early as World War Two by a Spitfire pilot describing the Lancaster I bombers he was escorting.

StuB · « **Reply #29 on:** April 12, 2007, 09:17:11 AM »

At the USAF memorial ceremony I was saw a presentation on a program where they have two (with the goal that eventually it will only require one) JSTARS aircraft act in the capacity of a GPS satallite and guide a GPS guided munition onto a moving target.

Although this would have many possible uses, the one that they are most excited about was anti-shipping. The stand off range is in the hundreds of miles but the accuracy is in a few meters. Very exciting stuff.

Quote

Originally posted by gbleck
I doubt this is a secret anymore, but...

First GPS guided bombs ever dropped in combat came from a B-2. IIRC, 2 of them carried 16X2000lb a piece, GPS guided bombs (JDAMs) on a strike against enemies of our nation. No need for lasers anymore--they're going the way of the Dodo as well .

GPS guided JDAMS are not designated as presission weapons. They are designated near pression. That said though yes with the joint munition series weapons the B2 has pleanty of great stuf to drop, launch or lob at all kinds of targets. Still though laser guided munitions will stay in the inventory as GPS guided munitions relly on the satalites being up. If the satalites are taken out or the frequencys they work on are jamed no more JDAMs or JSLAMs.