F-15E Strike Eagles Tested Modified 2,000-pound GBU-31 JDAMs On Maritime Targets (2024)

F-15E Strike Eagles Tested Modified 2,000-pound GBU-31 JDAMs On Maritime Targets (1)

Tests with the GBU-31 pave the way for the use of Joint Direct Attack Munitions against “moving and static maritime targets”.

Three F-15E Strike Eagles from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron carried out tests with modified 2,000 GBU-31 JDAMs on Aug. 26, 2021.

According to the 53rd Wing, partnering with the Air Force Research Laboratory, the F-15E crews developed and demonstrated new tactics, techniques, and procedures for employing modified GBU-31s on both moving and static maritime targets. The goal of the testing was “to validate a new way to employ air-delivered munitions on ships that will change the maritime target lethality paradigm.”

“For any large moving ship, the Air Force’s primary weapon is the 2,000-pound laser guided GBU-24,” said Maj. Andrew Swanson, 85th TES F-15E weapons system officer in a public release. “Not only is this weapon less than ideal, it also reduces our survivability based on how it must be employed. This munition can change all of that.”

JDAM is a guided air-to-surface weapon that can use several different warheads: the 2,000-pound BLU-109/MK 84, the 1,000-pound BLU-110/MK 83 or the 500-pound BLU-111/MK 82 warhead as the payload. Guidance is facilitated through a tail control system and a GPS-aided INS. The navigation system is initialized by transfer alignment from the aircraft that provides position and velocity vectors from the aircraft systems.

The GBU-31s in the photographs released by the U.S. Air Force appear to be GBU-31(V)1/B, using the guidance kit on an MK-84. It would be interesting to learn a bit more about the “modification” mentioned in the public release and how the JDAMs were used to engage “moving maritime targets” as JDAMs are not Laser Guided (unless they are Laser JDAMs – mentioned later) hence more suitable for use against fixed/stationary targets.

LGBs (Laser Guided Bombs) have long been used in maritime scenarios for moving targets but the seeker head of the LGB can be adversely affected by the elements (such as bad weather, fog, smoke, etc), potentially reducing its effectiveness. These weapons use on-board seeker to track targets that are designated by laser, typically in the infrared spectrum, and adjust their glide path to accurately strike the target.

Since the weapon tracks a light signature, not the object itself, the target must be illuminated from a separate source: either by ground forces, by a pod on the attacking aircraft or a different support aircraft (performing the so-called “buddy lasing”). While some LGBs, have been upgraded to embed a backup GPS guidance, the GBU-31s use only GPS coordinates to autonomously navigate to the designated target coordinates. Target coordinates can be loaded into the aircraft before takeoff, manually altered by the aircrew before weapon release, or automatically entered through target designation with onboard aircraft sensors. In its most accurate mode, the JDAM system will provide a weapon circular error probable of 5 meters or less during free flight when GPS data is available. If GPS data is denied, the JDAM will achieve a 30-meter CEP or less for free flight times up to 100 seconds with a GPS quality handoff from the aircraft.

Laser JDAM adds a laser seeker to the nose of a JDAM-equipped bomb, giving the ability to engage moving targets to the JDAM. For example,GBU-56(V)2/B is an MK-84 2,000-lb bomb fitted with the DSU-40/B semi-active laser (SAL) and KMU-556/B guidance set.

Anyway, building on a previous 53rd Wing test conducted last year (where the B-52H Stratofortress from the 49th TES dropped JDAMs in order to assess the viability of specific maritime impact conditions), the latest testing activity was carried out as part of the QUICKSINK Joint Capability Technology Demonstration, whose aim is to develop a low-cost method of achieving torpedo-like seaworthy kills from the air: a U.S. Navy submarine has the ability to launch and destroy a ship with a single torpedo at any time, but by launching that weapon it gives away the location of the vessel.

F-15E Strike Eagles Tested Modified 2,000-pound GBU-31 JDAMs On Maritime Targets (3)

About David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

F-15E Strike Eagles Tested Modified 2,000-pound GBU-31 JDAMs On Maritime Targets (2024)

FAQs

Which is special about F-15E Strike Eagles? ›

The F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics systems gives the F-15E the capability to fight at low altitude, day or night and in all weather.

How accurate is the JDAM bomb? ›

In its most accurate mode, the JDAM system will provide a minimum weapon accuracy CEP of 16 feet (5 m) or less when a GPS signal is available. If the GPS signal is jammed or lost, the JDAM can still achieve a 98-foot (30 m) CEP or less for free flight times up to 100 seconds.

What is the range of the JDAM ER bomb? ›

The wingspans of GBU-31, GBU-32, and GBU-38 are 25in (63.5cm), 19.6in (49.8cm), and 14in (35.6cm) respectively. The range is up to 15 miles (24km) and the ceiling is more than 45,000ft (13,677m).

What is the range of the F 15 Strike Eagle radar? ›

These radars can detect and track aircraft and small high-speed targets at distances beyond visual range down to close range, and at altitudes down to treetop level. The APG-63 has a basic range of 100 miles (87 nmi; 160 km).

Can the F-15E dogfight? ›

Flying The F-15E Strike Eagle In Air-To-Air Combat, From Dogfighting To Drone Hunting. F-15E pilot describes how, despite its air-to-ground roots, the Strike Eagle developed into a powerful air-to-air fighter.

Has an F-15 Eagle ever been shot down in combat? ›

Since its introduction in the mid-1970s, the F-15 has achieved an impressive air-to-air kill ratio of 104-0, making it one of the most successful fighter jets in history. The F-15 Eagle is renowned for its impressive air-to-air combat record, having never been shot down in aerial combat since its introduction.

Can JDAMs be shot down? ›

JDAM-type weapons are fire-and-forget: they are guided by GPS, which means the launch aircraft doesn't need to loiter in air defense range while illuminating the target. They are also small, very hard to shoot down and pack more explosive power for their size than artillery shells.

How much does a JDAM kit cost? ›

That tail kit includes a navigational system and a GPS guidance control unit that allows the bomb to be steered from an aircraft toward its ground target, even in rough weather. The per-unit cost of a JDAM kit ranges from about $25,000 to $84,000 apiece, depending on how many units the Air Force buys in a year.

Can JDAMs hit moving targets? ›

The LJDAM provides the capability to attack moving targets by enabling such targets to be illuminated with laser energy that LJDAM's seeker detects and tracks.

How many JDAMs can an F-15 carry? ›

The F-15E Strike Eagle is capable of carrying up to 15 JDAMs. This was achieved in a test by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, which showcased a proof of concept for Agile Combat Employment1. Prior to this, the F-15E was authorized to carry a maximum of nine JDAMs.

How many JDAMs can a B52 carry? ›

The B-52 can carry six JDAM-equipped bombs on its external pylons, and with the 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade it can also carry eight JDAM-equipped bombs in an internal rotary launcher.

How many JDAM can f16 carry? ›

On the Wikipedia article on F-16, in the section Specifications it claims that it can carry 12 Mark 82 GP bombs or 4 JDAM or 6 GBU-12 Paveway II.

How long can an F-15 fly without refueling? ›

Fully fueled, the F-15C can fly 3,450 miles (5,550 km), and the F-15E can fly 2,400 miles (3,860 km). The other problem with the engines is that they wear out pretty quickly. This is to be expected, given the amount of work they do.

What is the nickname of the F-15? ›

Flying Tennis Court

McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle ...Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org ›

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle is an American all-weather multirole strike fighter derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-1...
Eagles of Enduring Freedom. An F-15E from the USAF's 4th Fighter Wing flies over Afghanistan in April 2006. The USAF rotates detachments of F-15Es to Southw...
Mission The F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics systems gi...

Why is the F-15 Eagle so good? ›

The Eagle's air superiority is achieved through a mixture of unprecedented maneuverability and acceleration, range, weapons and avionics. It can penetrate enemy defense and outperform and outfight any current enemy aircraft.

What's the difference between an F-15 Eagle and an F-15 strike eagle? ›

United States Air Force (USAF) F-15E Strike Eagles can be generally distinguished from other US Eagle variants by darker aircraft camouflage, conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) mounted along the engine intake ramps (although CFTs can also be mounted on earlier F-15 variants) and a tandem-seat cockpit.

Which is better F-15 Strike Eagle or F-35? ›

The F-35 is a multirole fighter designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground, and electronic warfare missions. The F-15 is a dedicated air superiority fighter designed to dominate the skies. Both jets are highly sophisticated and capable, but they are designed for different purposes.

What is the difference between F-16 and F-15 Strike Eagle? ›

The F-16 and F-15 were thus highly complementary, with the former filing out most units and providing a somewhat unremarkable but still robust capability for air to air combat, while the latter formed elite units tasked with engaging the most capable fighters in an enemy air force and if needed penetrating deeper into ...

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