Ground Directed Bombing
Encyclopedia
Ground Directed Bombing is a type of attack mission performed by ground attack aircraft
. Aircraft are remotely guided from the ground with the assistance of a height and direction-finding radar. In mature versions of the system, bomb release is controlled from the ground for precision. This enabled delivery of unguided bombs in poor weather and night, where pilots were unable to see the ground and identify targets. Until the introduction of GPS-guided bombs, this remained the primary method of bomb delivery in poor weather conditions. Over 75% of all bombs delivered in Vietnam, in particular all Operation Linebacker
sorties, were performed with GDB.
The U.S. Marine Corps was the second to introduce this ability with the AN/MPQ-14, which first saw combat in Korea and proved the worth of such a system. It would be followed by the more reliable AN/TPQ-10 that saw widespread use in Iraq. The Air Force would introduce the AN/MSQ-77 in 1966 in Vietnam, a new role for the 1st Combat Evaluation Group
. The Marine system was primarily used in the close air support
role, with a CEP
of 50 yards. The Air Force system, however, was primarily used for harassment and interdiction, and used only in emergencies for CAS - it claimed a 250-meter CEP.
Both systems were derivatives of radar systems designed for other uses. The Marine version was originally designed as a training aid to mimic the remote guidance of a V-1 buzz bomb. The Air Force system came out of the AN/MSQ-35 system used to score bombing runs.
Though rendered obsolescent with the introduction of the JDAM family of GPS-guided bombs, the system remains in use as a training aid for simulating bomb release.
Ground attack aircraft
Ground-attack aircraft are military aircraft with primary role of attacking targets on the ground with greater precision than bombers and prepared to face stronger low-level air defense...
. Aircraft are remotely guided from the ground with the assistance of a height and direction-finding radar. In mature versions of the system, bomb release is controlled from the ground for precision. This enabled delivery of unguided bombs in poor weather and night, where pilots were unable to see the ground and identify targets. Until the introduction of GPS-guided bombs, this remained the primary method of bomb delivery in poor weather conditions. Over 75% of all bombs delivered in Vietnam, in particular all Operation Linebacker
Operation Linebacker
Operation Linebacker was the title of a U.S. Seventh Air Force and U.S. Navy Task Force 77 aerial interdiction campaign conducted against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam from 9 May to 23 October 1972, during the Vietnam War....
sorties, were performed with GDB.
The U.S. Marine Corps was the second to introduce this ability with the AN/MPQ-14, which first saw combat in Korea and proved the worth of such a system. It would be followed by the more reliable AN/TPQ-10 that saw widespread use in Iraq. The Air Force would introduce the AN/MSQ-77 in 1966 in Vietnam, a new role for the 1st Combat Evaluation Group
1st Combat Evaluation Group
The 1st Combat Evaluation Group , Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, was the military simulation evaluation and standardization unit of the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command .-History:...
. The Marine system was primarily used in the close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
role, with a CEP
Circular error probable
In the military science of ballistics, circular error probable is an intuitive measure of a weapon system's precision...
of 50 yards. The Air Force system, however, was primarily used for harassment and interdiction, and used only in emergencies for CAS - it claimed a 250-meter CEP.
Both systems were derivatives of radar systems designed for other uses. The Marine version was originally designed as a training aid to mimic the remote guidance of a V-1 buzz bomb. The Air Force system came out of the AN/MSQ-35 system used to score bombing runs.
Though rendered obsolescent with the introduction of the JDAM family of GPS-guided bombs, the system remains in use as a training aid for simulating bomb release.
Links
- Ground-Controlled Radar Bombing
- Air Force AN-MSQ-77
- Arc Light 1966
- AN-TPQ-43
- ConOps for evolution of Radar Bomb Scoring System to ground directed radar guided bombing, by Alan C. Jost of RaytheonRaytheonRaytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
. Accessed 2008-08-16