Can someone give me real payloads.

[Jona33]

Hi, for building some missions I'm wondering, what are Real life payloads used in Afghanistan by the F-16, the Strike eagle and the A-10.

 

Thanks.

[Speed]

Well, I don't know about real life load outs, but from everything I've heard, realistic loadouts for places like Afghanistan would be 2-4 bombs + AAMs for our Paki "friends". I doubt that the A-10 has carried many IR or TV Mavericks. Supposedly I read (on these forums) that they have been known to carry the AGM-65E laser Mav, but DCS doesn't model it. Primarily, in Afghanistan, the A-10 has used its gun with HE rounds. Supposedly you need to wait for approval to drop a bomb, but there is like no approval process required to making strafing runs with the GAU.

Edited October 7, 2011 by Speed

[EtherealN]

Depends on what you mean by "approval". You are not allowed to deploy any weapon unless cleared to do so by the JTAC/FAC/etc.

[MagnumHB]

A-10C:

http://warthogcombatloadouts.blogspot.com/

http://warthognews.blogspot.com/

 

F-15E:

http://www.f-15e.info/joomla/en/weapons/loadout-configurations/125-enduring-freedom

 

Other/General:

http://www.af.mil/photos/mediagallery.asp?galleryID=11

 

The Osprey books also have quite a lot of information on loadouts. Generally speaking, you can't go wrong with primarily LGB/JDAM setups.

 

Supposedly you need to wait for approval to drop a bomb, but there is like no approval process required to making strafing runs with the GAU.

Sure there is, if you are conducting CAS or BAI being controlled by any sort of FAC(A) or JTAC.

[Speed]

Sure there is, if you are conducting CAS or BAI being controlled by any sort of FAC(A) or JTAC.

 

Thank you, Cpt. Obvious :P. What I mean is there is like either a very fast approval time or no approval required at all from the higher-ups if you want to get a strafing run. Otherwise, I've heard that you might have to wait for like an hour sometimes for some REMF commander back at some base somewhere to give the approval for bombs release in some engagement. It would probably depend, obviously. If there was a dire situation, you would probably get approval much more quickly. If you had some enemies pinned down in some house and weren't in real danger, it might take a while. Just guessing, and keep in mind this is just going based off of what I've heard, not personal experience...

Edited October 7, 2011 by Speed

[MagnumHB]

It is my understanding that the ROEs have fluctuated significantly over the 10 years of OEF, which would change requirements for what situations may or may not require higher authority at any given time. The events described in books like Apache and Fire Strike 7/9 during roughly 2006-2007 were at a peak time of ordnance delivery with relatively lenient ROEs. There have been other periods where less ordnance usage was desired, and correspondingly strict ROEs put in place. Generally, I would think that a JTAC would have more personal authority during a troops in contact situation as compared to, say, a UAV observing a possible IED emplacement team for example. There's also collateral damage considerations which may also require higher authority.

 

Also, in some ways, a strafing run may actually require more approval than a bomb drop if the strafe requires breaking an established hard deck. I believe the approval for this is easier to get if the situation is critical (TIC). One caveat here is that this requirement may apply less to the A-10 than other, faster aircraft due to the nature of A-10 operations.

[Speed]

It is my understanding that the ROEs have fluctuated significantly over the 10 years of OEF, which would change requirements for what situations may or may not require higher authority at any given time. The events described in books like Apache and Fire Strike 7/9 during roughly 2006-2007 were at a peak time of ordnance delivery with relatively lenient ROEs. There have been other periods where less ordnance usage was desired, and correspondingly strict ROEs put in place. Generally, I would think that a JTAC would have more personal authority during a troops in contact situation as compared to, say, a UAV observing a possible IED emplacement team for example. There's also collateral damage considerations which may also require higher authority.

 

Also, in some ways, a strafing run may actually require more approval than a bomb drop if the strafe requires breaking an established hard deck. I believe the approval for this is easier to get if the situation is critical (TIC). One caveat here is that this requirement may apply less to the A-10 than other, faster aircraft due to the nature of A-10 operations.

 

I would be incredibly surprised if the A-10 had a hard deck in Afghanistan. Their #1 weapon there is the gun, by all accounts, and there's very little to shoot them down. A few larger machine guns, maybe a few scattered MANPADs, small arms fire... and the A-10 was specifically designed to be resistant to those weapons.

[MagnumHB]

For sure, that's essentially what I was saying. This video shows A-10 gun runs in the vicinity of 3000 ft AGL and .5-.7 NM slant range: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d2c_1317795682

[Snoopy]

Well the 74th FS just got back from Afghanistan this week and members of my reserve unit were there with them....I'll find out what the "standard" loadout was and what kind of restrictions they had while in theater and let you know...it'll be a week from Sunday or Monday...

[sorcer3r]

Some A-10s in Lybia

 

 

 

Look @1min10sec: seems to be 2x Mav, 2x GBU-12(?), 2x Aim-9,1x TGP.

[WildFire]

Look @1min10sec: seems to be 2x Mav, 2x GBU-12(?), 2x Aim-9,1x TGP.

 

 

When he turns you can see a Jammer. I didnt see the Mavs, but I did see at least one GBU-12 and the AIMS, TGP.

[Torment]

I would be incredibly surprised if the A-10 had a hard deck in Afghanistan. Their #1 weapon there is the gun, by all accounts, and there's very little to shoot them down. A few larger machine guns, maybe a few scattered MANPADs, small arms fire... and the A-10 was specifically designed to be resistant to those weapons.

 

If the A-10 is operating within the confines of a ROZ , then the JTAC can laterally deconflict the other assests to basically "clear way" for the A-10 to use the GAU. This could allow the fighter to break through the coordinating altitude which is the separation of rotary and fixed wing aircraft.

 

Well the 74th FS just got back from Afghanistan this week and members of my reserve unit were there with them....I'll find out what the "standard" loadout was and what kind of restrictions they had while in theater and let you know...it'll be a week from Sunday or Monday...

 

Cool bunch of guys in that squadron. Really enjoyed talking/working with them. Happy to hear that they're back.