GBU-31 extremely small explosive radius on both air-burst and ground impact

[Noctrach]

Hi,

The GBU-31 2000 lbs JDAM currently has an effective explosive radius for both air-burst and ground impact well below known data.

The Mk-84 is generally estimated to have a lethal radius of >300 metres (1000 feet) vs up to ~80m for a Mk-82. However, in the sim this difference is nowhere close.The Mk-84-based bombs are incapable of damaging unarmoured targets like an Ural 375 beyond about 80m. As it stands this makes the 2000 lbs bombs nearly pointless for use in DCS, as you can cause far greater destruction by rippling 4x GBU-38, with better versatility, at a significantly lower cost in weight and drag. That said, GBU-38s themselves do not fare much better, being ineffective against infantry or unarmoured targets outside of 50-60 metres.

 

Tested with Ural-375 at ~200ft spacing and AK-47 infantry at ~150 ft spacing. Air-burst result are identical to ground impact.

GBU-38 after-effects

Ural at impact point destroyed, Infantry destroyed up to 150 feet/45m, no other damages.

GBU-31 after-effects

Infantry killed up to ~400 feet, Urals mostly unharmed beyond 160 feet

Naturally, the infantry aspect is partially down to the very simple damage model. Still, the current sim version of an air-burst Mk-84 in DCS has a lower damage radius against unarmoured targets, than the lethal fragmentation radius of a real world Mk-82. The difference in effectiveness is excessive and should be considered a bug.

WeakJDAMAir.trk WeakJDAMGround.trk WeakJDAMComparisonGBU31.trk WeakJDAMComparisonGBU38.trk

Edited July 17, 2022 by Noctrach