Author Topic: Storm Shadow (Read 434 times)

gatso · « **on:** March 24, 2003, 05:30:00 AM »

Geoff Hoon just sang the praises of our newest standoff weapon. I wondered what the large weapons mounted under Tornados were a couple of days ago, now I know.

Gatso

Hortlund · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2003, 05:50:59 AM »

well...?

gatso · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2003, 06:04:01 AM »

Well what?

Just found it interesting we're using such a new weapon. I read a little about if a couple of years ago and was unaware it was now in front line service.

Link http://www.eurofighter.starstreak.net/common/AG/ss.html if anyone wants it.

Gatso

Dowding · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2003, 06:12:19 AM »

That's a mighty impressive weapon.

Does the Tornado GR4 carry 2?

Hortlund · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2003, 06:27:46 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by gatso
Well what?

Well, I was just curious what it was.

gatso · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2003, 06:48:40 AM »

I believe 2 on the Tornado Dowding. They played a clip over and over yesterday on New24 of a tech removing an access panel on a Tornado wing pylon. There was at least one big grey missile with a red painted nose cone hanging from it at the time, I'm sure thet'll play it again at some point today.

It looked a bit like the JP223 we used 12 years ago hanging off the belly of the aircraft and I initially thought the BBC had got their archieve footage mixed up.

lol.

We have never flown with the real thing and had no idea how well it would work
Group Captain Simon Dobb 617Sqn RAF

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2876859.stm

Hortlund, Point taken. I suppose if you'd never heard of it before my original post could have been slightly lacking in info.

Gatso

Dowding · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2003, 06:54:22 AM »

Did you know the JP233 is actually a banned weapon? It is because of the anti-personnel mines it contained.

I was talking to a guy at RAF Cranwell about it at the selection centre (this was before they decided non-diagnosed, suspected epilepsy was still epilepsy

) - he said they had to remove all references about it in their promo videos or at least point out the facts.

gatso · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2003, 07:11:03 AM »

Yeah. JP223 is a big nono now. They were too risky anyway and there's no runways we want to deny use of this time.

I think Apache is Matra/BAe's new standoff runway weapon. It's another new one I've not heard much about and appears to be very similar externally to Storm Shadow.

I'm off to Gosport for my 2nd go in a month or two so I'm following current events pretty closely at the moment, I'm very keen to fill any gaps in my military hardware knowledge because I don't want to be tripped up during the interview.

Gatso

Dowding · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2003, 07:44:17 AM »

Good luck mate. I was diagnosed epileptic shortly afterward anyways after a second seizure, and prescribed medication. Unless I give up the medication and stay fit free for 5 years they won't accept my application. Ah, well. I've been told by several people it is fate.

Yeah, the Tornado losses incurred during deployment of the JP233 were horrendous - mainly because you have to fly straight and level over the runway while it's used. Is the Apache just a stand-off version of that process?