Article

2023-04-12 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

American smart bombs are getting 'stupid' in Ukraine

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Posted by badanov 2023-04-12 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 Real World 'Smart Bomb' Use Case Failures:

Use Case Failure 1) Theoretically, the specialists who did this on Ukrainian aircraft were not familiar with the equipment mechanism and made mistakes. They lead to the fact that the fuse either does not work at all (the bomb just falls in the target area and does not detonate), or detonates too late," the source said. JDAM

Use Case Failure 2) Russian electronic warfare systems (EW). EW installations jam the GPS signal, which is used to target the bomb. This causes the JDAM to deviate from the course set during the launch from the aircraft. JDAM

Use Case Failure 3) The bomb is launched at one coordinate, it enters the EW coverage area. The electronic warfare installation sets a different coordinate system, the bomb deviates from the course and either does not work or hits a false target," ”Tumbartsev explained. [Russian]sic R-330Zh Zhitel jamming station, the Krasuha and Palantin electronic warfare systems, as well as Pole-21, which specialize in radio suppression of drone control channels, can be used. JDAM

Use Case Failure 4) HARM anti-radar missiles, which were actively used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the second half of 2022, showed almost zero effectiveness, the source of RIA Novosti noted. HARM

Use Case Failure 5) As in the case of JDAM bombs, HARM missiles are launched from extremely low altitudes, which also increases the likelihood of abnormal missile firing. JDAM/HARM

SUMMARY) The conclusion suggests itself - the Ukrainian Air Force in the foreseeable future is unlikely to be able to use modern weapons.

Posted by Clem Pholuque8480 2023-04-12 03:58|| 2023-04-12 03:58|| Front Page Top

#2 Case #3: Electronic interception and dynamic re-tasking. The AN/TPY-2 interceptors and it's follow-on's have been around for a while. Guidance system hacking is relatively new twist.

Posted by Besoeker 2023-04-12 04:20|| 2023-04-12 04:20|| Front Page Top

#3 As the world changes around systems, detailed use cases must be created to define those changes to its uses for system superiority.

Posted by Clem Pholuque8480 2023-04-12 06:04|| 2023-04-12 06:04|| Front Page Top

#4 For those unfamiliar with the JDAM bolt-on.

Posted by Skidmark 2023-04-12 07:05|| 2023-04-12 07:05|| Front Page Top

#5 But, but, Ukraine is winning, right?

Posted by DooDahMan 2023-04-12 07:15|| 2023-04-12 07:15|| Front Page Top

#6 Leaked Pentagon documents paint grim picture of Ukrainian air defense supplies, may only last a month

Posted by Skidmark 2023-04-12 08:00|| 2023-04-12 08:00|| Front Page Top

#7 ...This is not impossible, but it's damned unlikely unless the Ukranians have been working with a degree of utter and complete incompetence that - at least in terms of munitions handling and delivery - they have not yet shown.

Without going into a lot of detail, the JDAM packages are very, VERY hard to damage - to the point where you'd almost have to make a deliberate effort to do so.

Now, I would be willing to listen to a possible issue with the avionics - scabbed on to a wild variety of former Soviet aircraft under field conditions, and maintained by guys who do not have the original tech training, there's going to be a non-zero chance of a problem.

Mike

Posted by MikeKozlowski 2023-04-12 08:12|| 2023-04-12 08:12|| Front Page Top

#8 This is not impossible, but it's damned unlikely unless the Ukranians have been working with a degree of utter and complete incompetence

Or it could be Russian propaganda written by Russians, for Russians, on a Russian website. I know which way I would bet.

JDAMs are backed by an inertial navigation unit and they are getting better and better as MEMS tech improves. The limiting factor in JDAM use would be the number MiG-29s that have pylon adapters that are compatible with it. One reason why F-16s that can carry 6 JDAMs are critical for Ukrainian victory.

Posted by Helmuth, Speaking for Gritch3684 2023-04-12 10:57|| 2023-04-12 10:57|| Front Page Top

Posted by DarthVader 2023-04-12 11:18|| 2023-04-12 11:18|| Front Page Top

#10 Salt to taste, DV. We should have all heard the brief on the first casualty of war. Many of these articles are interesting but I think the Morton girl with her umbrella should be at the top of this page every day.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2023-04-12 13:24|| 2023-04-12 13:24|| Front Page Top

#11 True Abu. While the HARMS can't have their full capabilities with datalinks being guided towards their targets on the MIG-29s and are only preprogramed for a location where the radars are known to be... they still caused some to be destroyed and forced the Russians to start moving them while turning them off and on, degrading the air defense.

They did their job. Not perfect, but it worked for what was needed for the Kherson offensive.

Posted by DarthVader 2023-04-12 13:29|| 2023-04-12 13:29|| Front Page Top

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