wdr@wang.com (William Ricker) (05/16/91)
From: wdr@wang.com (William Ricker)
National Public Radio's All Things Considered reported on 15 May that
the USAF General commanding AF Systems Command (Gen Gates?) confirmed
the Aviation Week & ST article that reported expedited development, testing,
deployment and use of a new bomb in the Iraq/KTO "war".
The GBU-28 is a 2-ton hardened bunker piercing bomb, twice as
heavy as the standard bunker buster -- which was having trouble with
certain key command bunker targets. The new design was tested once
stateside and then rushed into production, with finished units being
loaded onto theatre-bound planes "with the casings still warm".
One or two handfuls were deployed, use was confired only against one
"senior command bunker near Bagdhad", in which it is rumored that many
top Iraqi brass died.
My comments & questions (for someone with Aviation Leak)
Does the GBU-## indicate that this monster was dropped with a guidance
nose-and-tail?
I remember the poundage was 4000+Lbs, with a 7 digit somewhere, but
don't recall if it was 47x0, 4070, or 4x70.
I didn't hear any mention of what craft dropped 'em, or whether the
ferry flight went direct to drop zone.
--
/s/ Bill Ricker wdr@wang.wang.com
"The Freedom of the Press belongs to those who own one."
*** Warning: This account is not authorized to express opinions. ***JANDERSON%WILLIAMA.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu (Jim Anderson) (05/17/91)
From: Jim Anderson <JANDERSON%WILLIAMA.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu> That posting goes back to something I posted a while back. Read in the local Albany, New York newspaper that the Watervilet Arsenal supplied a number of tank cannon barrels to a west coast defense contractor. The arsenal reportedly attached the laser-seeker and tail fin units then shipped the to the unamed contractor for ordanance installation. Report also commented that these were the devices used against the "Baghdad Bunker" I beleive the "Wobbly Goblin" was used in that raid. Two aircraft, two bombs each from what I remember. Jim Anderson Systems Manager Williams College
rteasdal@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (Falconer) (05/20/91)
From: rteasdal@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (Falconer) I'm not sure that we're talking about the same bunker buster, but there was a piece on the NBC evening news about two weeks ago on the deep-penetrating weapon which was developed in great haste, if indeed that is the GBU-28. This weapon was not delivered by an F-117, as the previous post had it, nor were two such bombs on each plane. A brief interview with a pilot who dropped the first one indicated that it was carried by an F-15 (E model, presumably) - one bomb per aircraft. The pilot's comment was that the weapon was extremely heavy and clumsy in external carriage, noticably affecting the flying characteristics of the Eagle. -- Russ Teasdale -- rteasdal@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU
tarl@lectroid.sw.stratus.com (Tarl Neustaedter) (05/21/91)
From: tarl@lectroid.sw.stratus.com (Tarl Neustaedter)
According to this week's aviation week, two GBU-28s were delivered by F-111Fs
late in the afternoon of feb 27. They hit the bunker complex at the Al Taji
Air Base a few miles north of Baghdad. One of them hit the wrong bunker, the
other destroyed the primary target.
The F-15E has not yet been certified for this bomb; The fifth GBU-28 is
slated for being dropped at Eglin AFB to certify the F-15E.
I'm sure someone will post a summary of the article eventually, I just
wanted to settle the delivery vehicle question.
--
Tarl Neustaedter tarl@vos.stratus.com
Marlboro, Mass. Stratus Computer
Disclaimer: My employer is not responsible for my opinions.