MI-24s can drop up to 500kg worth of bombs. (From what I have read, the makeshift bombs they are using are around 1500 to 2000 pounds each. Who knows.)
Bombs within weight range (presumably ZAB, FAB, RBK, ODAB etc.), Up to 500 kg. MBD multiple ejector racks (presumably MBD-4 with 4 × FAB-100) KGMU2V submunition/mine dispenser pods
Makes sense - it's a quick, effective and low-cost way to turn helicopters and transport aircraft into medium and heavy bombers. Definitely not as accurate as PGM's, but then again many of the countries using this method don't hold collateral damage to the same importance level we do.
In particular, I think the idea of employing helicopters as improvised bombers really took off in third-world countries after fighting in Lebanon in 2007. The tiny Lebanese Air Force, lacking any dedicated attack helicopters or fighter aircraft, had great success dropping conventional bombs from modified UH-1H Hueys.
I'm guessing that because of this the next time we decide to fight some third-world country their helicopter fleet will move up on the target priority list.
I think I already directed the readers of this blog toward the old (1994) Dale Brown' novel "Storming Heaven", but the concept of using helicopters or even transport and tourism planes as bomb trucks is nothing new and could also be used for domestic terrorism in a rather easy way...
Isn't a barrel bomb dropped from a chopper what the Viet-commies tried to blast Rambo with in First Blood II?
ReplyDeleteyeah but i thought that was just hollywood fluff, not real life!
DeleteMI-24s can drop up to 500kg worth of bombs. (From what I have read, the makeshift bombs they are using are around 1500 to 2000 pounds each. Who knows.)
DeleteBombs within weight range (presumably ZAB, FAB, RBK, ODAB etc.), Up to 500 kg.
MBD multiple ejector racks (presumably MBD-4 with 4 × FAB-100)
KGMU2V submunition/mine dispenser pods
From wikipedia.
Makes sense - it's a quick, effective and low-cost way to turn helicopters and transport aircraft into medium and heavy bombers. Definitely not as accurate as PGM's, but then again many of the countries using this method don't hold collateral damage to the same importance level we do.
ReplyDeleteIn particular, I think the idea of employing helicopters as improvised bombers really took off in third-world countries after fighting in Lebanon in 2007. The tiny Lebanese Air Force, lacking any dedicated attack helicopters or fighter aircraft, had great success dropping conventional bombs from modified UH-1H Hueys.
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2009/11/dxb09-lebanon-air-force-re-inv-1/
I'm guessing that because of this the next time we decide to fight some third-world country their helicopter fleet will move up on the target priority list.
I think I already directed the readers of this blog toward the old (1994) Dale Brown' novel "Storming Heaven", but the concept of using helicopters or even transport and tourism planes as bomb trucks is nothing new and could also be used for domestic terrorism in a rather easy way...
ReplyDelete