inaccurate and not planned GBU-54 Laser/GPS JDAM

[PacFlyer23]

I learned DCS in the A-10 so I was very surprised when moving over to the F/A-18C that the GBU-54 Laser/GPS JDAM was not available for it. Is this due to the era in which it was deployed - mid 2000s?

[Muchocracker]

Was not an available load in the timeframe cutoff ED has set

[lee1hy]

TOOOOO SAD 

[PacFlyer23]

Yes this clarifies things.

I was a bit confused by the media release from 2008 on the first use of the GBU-54, but it was just the USAF...

"The U.S. Air Force has deployed in combat for the first time, the guided bomb unit-54, Laser Joint Directed Attack Munition – or LJDAM. 

The GBU-54 is the U.S. Air Force's newest 500-pound precision weapon, equipped with a special targeting system that uses a combination of GPS and laser guidance to accurately engage and destroy moving targets. 

On, Aug. 12, 2008, F-16s from the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, successfully executed this "combat first" when the weapon was employed against a moving enemy vehicle in Diyala province, Iraq."

Then in October 2010 the USAF 510th Fighter Squadron employed a GBU-54 laser joint directed attack munition for the first time in the Afghan area of operations.

However, the US Navy didn't get GBU-54s until 2012 when it reached initial operational capability.
 

[Slick_441]

Didn't see a thread for this already, but it might not be a bad idea for the Hornet fans here to start looking into what a "Hornet 2" module may look like.

Off the top of my head:

-Laser JDAM
-APKWS
-Sniper Pod (Not US, I know)
-AESA
-JASSM

What else am I missing?

[Dragon1-1]

I don't think USN uses APKWS, they had their own guided rocket program that used an IR seeker. Sniper pod isn't a USN thing, either. In fact, I don't think the legacy Hornet ever had any of those things. What you seem to want is a Block 2 Superbug, but the AESA on that one is probably out. ED had expressed interest in the Super Hornet after the Hornet is finished, but probably not later blocks, but rather early ones with avionics quite a lot like our Hornet. In fact, what we have can pretty accurately be described as early Superbug avionics in a Legacy airframe, in its heyday the Hornet wasn't quite as spiffy, with monochrome MFDs, no HMD and the older Nite Hawk pod.

Myself, I'd rather have an 80s era A or early C, but the Superbug will probably be more popular. Plus, I have a certain fondness for it thanks to an ancient sim I once flew.

[Slick_441]

USMC has APWKS and Canada uses the Sniper Pod (Both have/will have AESA radar soon). I even said the Sniper Pod was not a US thing. This would be for a "Hornet 2" upgrade that could possibly bring things outside the current "Lot 20" scope and incorporate upgrades not seen on the USN versions.

Super Hornet would be fun and I'm aware of what it would bring to DCS, but that's not what I'm looking for.

[Saguanay]

Not much hope in getting the Bug to use anything other than what was set up for a F/A-18C from a certain model / year / day  / picture.

[BarTzi]

On 5/26/2025 at 1:21 AM, Slick_441 said:

Didn't see a thread for this already, but it might not be a bad idea for the Hornet fans here to start looking into what a "Hornet 2" module may look like.

Off the top of my head:

-Laser JDAM
-APKWS
-Sniper Pod (Not US, I know)
-AESA
-JASSM

What else am I missing?

Hornet 2.0 could potentially be a completely new module, a Rhino.

[Slick_441]

On 5/30/2025 at 6:08 AM, BarTzi said:

Hornet 2.0 could potentially be a completely new module, a Rhino.

I'd prefer the legacy upgrade for now. But I'm sure there's room for both.

[Silver_Dragon]

52 minutes ago, Slick_441 said:

I'd prefer the legacy upgrade for now. But I'm sure there's room for both.

A F/A-18E will be a complete new module, no a C "upgrade". Wags was clear on the February Q&A, when the F/A-18C will complete, they start to think if move a Rhino module.

[wilbur81]

3 hours ago, Slick_441 said:

I'd prefer the legacy upgrade for now. But I'm sure there's room for both.

Ditto. 

"While the USMC outlined in its 2022 Aviation Plan that it will sundown the Hornet fleet by 2030, the last major planned upgrade for its fleet is SCS-31C – 2024. This upgrade plan includes AESA radar integration, improved navigation, electronic warfare enhancements, and new networked-enabled and extended-range weaponry. Aside from JASSM, the weaponry integration includes upgraded variants of the Harpoon anti-ship missile and AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon C-1. " taken from the following:  https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/09/u-s-marines-begin-jassm-integration-into-f-a-18-hornet-fleet/