Senior Airman Michael McAffrey from Tacoma, Wash., a joint terminal
attack controller with the 116th Air Support Operations Squadron,
Washington Air National Guard, patrols alongside a field near Khanda
Village, Laghman province, Afghanistan, June 18. JTACS like McAffrey
were a critical asset to Army ground commanders during Operation Hammer
Down II. |
Look at that. Four JDAMs and no bags.
ReplyDeleteB. Bolsøy
Oslo
yep...but answer this for me. why are they carrying air to air missiles if there isn't an aerial threat. or is there?
ReplyDeleteNever leave on a mission without your pistol. ;)
ReplyDeleteB. Bolsøy
Oslo
Check out this Danish "intercept": http://tinyurl.com/6y7zm3g
ReplyDeleteB. Bolsøy
Oslo
@Sol:
ReplyDeleteCertain weapons stations on the F-15 and F-16 can only accomodate air-to-air missiles. An F-15 carrying one or two AMRAAMS is not going to significantly degrade its range or loiter time, so might as well utilize those weapons stations in case the shit hits the fan.
In fact, if I remember correctly from the Aero course I took, wingtip mounted Air-to-Air missiles on the F-16 actually act like winglets. I can't remember if this simply negates the negative effect of the missile's weight or if it actually improves the F-16's range and loiter time though...