Posted on 03/23/2012 7:27:03 PM PDT by U-238
The US Air Force has begun to deploy Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors upgraded with enhanced air-to-ground strike capabilities to the operational fleet, starting with the 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.
"The 525th Fighter Squadron was the first Combat Air Forces squadron to receive an [Increment] 3.1 modified aircraft," says squadron commander Lt Col Paul "Max" Moga. "The capabilities this incremental upgrade brings are a complete game-changer for the F-22, making it even more lethal and survivable in combat."
The unit's flagship, tail number 4115, is the first aircraft to be equipped with the modifications, which add a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capability, electronic attack, better geo-location capabilities to find enemy radars, and the ability to carry eight 113kg (250lb) GBU-39 small diameter bombs (SDB).
The Increment 3.1 upgrade allows a pilot manually to designate two ground targets at a time using two weapons each, according to Lockheed, enabling an F-22 to hit four separate targets with its eight weapons. By contrast, the USAF's previous Increment 2 configuration enabled each aircraft to strike two fixed targets using its two 454kg Joint Direct Attack Munition satellite-corrected, inertially guided bombs.
(Excerpt) Read more at flightglobal.com ...
the A&E Max Moga?
Ping
Great Photographs!!!!
Why does an air superiority fighter need to be armed with dinky little 250lb bombs?
SAM batteries and AAA
General purpose bombs are designed to minimize drag on an aircraft.This is where maximum blast and explosive effects are desired. You can also different fuzes and fins. You can change them from a “dumb bomb” into a “smart bomb”
Bookmark
ROFL. Yep in the two gulf wars the Sam battery operators got smart enough to realize if they turned them on well we would promptly turn the off for good.
and then the serbs figured out they could use microwave ovens as decoys against HARM missiles.
“...and then the serbs figured out they could use microwave ovens as decoys against HARM missiles.”
Who gets to turn on the microwave oven?
The fastest runner in the unit.
Because big bombs don’t fit in a weapons bay built for 335 lb AMRAAMs.
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