Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: adrian@cs.heriot-watt.ac.uk (Adrian Hurt) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Lots of answers and some questions Message-ID: <1991Jan27.110724.28263@cbnews.att.com> Date: 27 Jan 91 11:07:24 GMT References: <1991Jan23.040415.5172@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: Computer Science, Heriot-Watt U., Scotland Lines: 41 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Adrian Hurt In article <1991Jan23.040415.5172@cbnews.att.com> moudgill@svax.cs.cornell.edu (Mayan Moudgill) writes: >Runway Penetration Bombs: > Does the American arsenal have any? I think that there was > a time when the only NATO anti-runway bomb was the Durandals > (I _think_) which the tornadoes could carry. I'm kinda wondering, > since the news reports seem to indicate that the tornadoes > were operating against runways. I expect the Tornado could carry a Durandal if the RAF wanted, but they have their own weapon. The Hunting JP233 scatters lots of small bomblets to either side of the aircraft. I imagine the best way to use it is to fly straight along the runway, scattering bomblets as you go. That way you tear up the whole runway, rather than just cutting it in half. Of course, flying in a straight line makes you easier to hit; maybe that's why we've lost so many Tornados. The JP233 also throws out some delayed action mines, to upset anyone who comes to fill in the holes. >Sparrow vs Sidewinder: > Again a vauge recollection of somebody saying that sparrows, > for all their range, were no-good for attack fighters, and > that pheonixs were worse. I'm not sure, but I think the > agility of the sparrow is low. Can anyone confirm? It's not just a matter of agility. The Sparrow is Semi-Active Radar, which means it has a radar receiver but not a transmitter. The firing aircraft has to keep its radar pointing at the target until the missile hits. By contrast, the Sidewinder is Infra-Red Homing. It doesn't need a transmitter; it homes in on a heat source, e.g. a jet engine. That means you can fire it, then run away. It also means that if someone has fired a Sparrow at you, you fire a Sidewinder back and turn away. He's got two choices; try to evade your missile (and lose radar lock, so his missile definitely won't hit you), or keep pointing at you, and get hit himself. "Keyboard? How quaint!" - M. Scott Adrian Hurt | JANET: adrian@uk.ac.hw.cs UUCP: ..!ukc!cs.hw.ac.uk!adrian | ARPA: adrian@cs.hw.ac.uk