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Iraq-Jordan
U.S. tests urban bomb, destroys insurgents' building in Faluja
2004-10-14
The U.S. military has used Iraq to test a precision bomb designed for targets in urban areas and producing minimal collateral damage.
Ummm... Iraq is an active war zone, with lots of urban areas. Can this truly be called a test? Or is it the first operational use?
The U.S. Air Force has conducted the first successful drop of a GBU-38 bomb in combat during a recent mission in Iraq.
That makes more sense than calling it a test...
"I am a talking GBU-38 bomb. This is only a test. Please ignore all shrapnel, concussion, and casualties. I repeat: this is only a test! Thank you. [KABOOM!]"
The bombs were deployed on two F-16 multi-role fighters, which performed a simultaneous GBU-38 release on the same target in central Iraq. Officials said the 500-pound bombs precisely hit a two-story building occupied by the Tawhid and Jihad group in Faluja with minimal collateral damage. They said this was the first time a GBU-38 was deployed in a demonstration of a smaller munition meant to reduce collateral damage in urban areas, Middle East Newsline reported. "This was the right weapon for the job," the lead pilot who carried out the mission, identified only as Lt. Col. Mitch, said. "If we used any bigger of a bomb, we would have caused unnecessary damage."
"Less filling!"
Officials said the GBU-38 provides the U.S. military with a smaller precision weapon for use against urban targets. They said the bomb, which could be deployed on the F-16, would allow for precision strikes at night.
"Tastes great!"
The GBU-38 is composed of an MK-82 with the Joint Direct Attack Munitions guidance system. Officials said the GBU-38 was regarded as much lighter and easier to assemble than most of the other munitions loaded on F-16s. The GBU-38 was said to be significantly smaller and lighter than the GBU-12 and the GBU-31. "This is a relatively easy bomb to drop," Mitch said. "We simply set the coordinates and deliver the bomb. There's a slight shake in the jet as the bomb is released because [of] the sudden weight reduction, which happens after every drop." The bomb has been sought by Middle East allies.
We can arrange delivery.
Posted by:Mark Espinola

#14  As Darth Vader would say..."Don't be too proud of this technological advancement, it's insignificant next to the power of "The Force"! The sheer accuracy and limited application of such force WAS used centuries ago (See 1Kings 18:30-38)By the LORD!!
Posted by: smn   2004-10-14 11:16:46 PM  

#13  Brett, that is sheer poetry!
Posted by: trailing wife   2004-10-14 10:07:03 PM  

#12  Swing low, sweet JDAM,
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet JDAM,
Coming for to carry me home.

I looked over Jordan, and what did I see?
Coming for to carry me home,
A band of Marines coming after me,
Coming for to carry me home.

Swing low, sweet JDAM,
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet JDAM,
Coming for to carry me home.

If you 'splodey before I do,
Coming for to carry me home,
Tell all my raisins I’m coming, too.
Coming for to carry me home.

Swing low, sweet JDAM,
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet JDAM,
Coming for to carry me home.

I’m sometimes solid and sometimes ground round,
Coming for to carry me home,
But still my soul is hell-bound,
Coming for to carry me home.

Swing low, sweet JDAM,
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet JDAM,
Coming for to carry me home.

The brightest day that I can say,
Coming for to carry me home,
When JDAM washed my sins away,
Coming for to carry me home.
Posted by: Brett_the_Quarkian   2004-10-14 8:34:26 PM  

#11  ...as long as heat and overpressure were not needed (i.e. triggering secondaries).

Given the present combination of targets (personnel and munitions), the 250-pounder is going to be the round of choice.
Posted by: Pappy   2004-10-14 8:21:11 PM  

#10  Finally the democrats and mike moore will shut up about "oh but we're killing civilians! Oh those evil US Soldiers"
Damm liberals....
Posted by: Quarterdeck   2004-10-14 5:04:24 PM  

#9  
#8 Fallujah Craters... Next great tourist site after the ruins of Babylon... Steve S. - I look forward to the day when a fly-sized bomb flies into a Zarqawi-sized ear and makes a really tiny brain explode in a big red cloud of vapor. Tested on watermelons?.

I'll bet the Gunny from the Histroy Channel would volunteer to be the guideance officer.
Posted by: Cheaderhead   2004-10-14 5:00:03 PM  

#8  Fallujah Craters... Next great tourist site after the ruins of Babylon...

Steve S. - I look forward to the day when a fly-sized bomb flies into a Zarqawi-sized ear and makes a really tiny brain explode in a big red cloud of vapor.

Tested on watermelons?

Posted by: BigEd   2004-10-14 12:48:53 PM  

#7  Raptor, you'll see those soon enough. Or, to be more accurate, THEY will see those soon enough. Problem is with adjusting to the ballistics and sizing of the round.

Anything below that, and a 500 pound concrete blivet with JDAM gear fitted to it would suffice, as long as heat and overpressure were not needed (i.e. triggering secondaries). 3 or so rounds each of 500 pounds of steel cased concrete at 600 miles an hour is a pretty hard hit to any small building.
Posted by: OldSpook   2004-10-14 12:10:29 PM  

#6  Heard awhile back they are adapting jdam attachments for 250lb bombs,just the right size for taking out a house.
Posted by: Raptor   2004-10-14 11:52:50 AM  

#5  SteveS:

you assume that by removing their brains they would act differently.
Posted by: PlanetDan   2004-10-14 9:13:28 AM  

#4  9.9 SteveS! PMAM!

Pink Mist Attack Munitions
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-10-14 1:18:12 AM  

#3  SteveS - LOL! Excellent!!!
Posted by: .com   2004-10-14 1:06:56 AM  

#2  How lovely. Kinder, gentler, more sensitive bombs. It's interesting to see weapons getting smaller and more precise rather than bigger and more destructive. I look forward to the day when a fly-sized bomb flies into a Zarqawi-sized ear and makes a really tiny brain explode in a big red cloud of vapor.
Posted by: SteveS   2004-10-14 1:00:13 AM  

#1  There’s a slight shake in the jet as the bomb is released

Hmmm, never knew that.
Posted by: Rafael   2004-10-14 12:47:47 AM  

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