| OAF Loadouts |
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Operation Allied Force (OAF) was launched in early 1999, following the displacement of some 300,000 refugees from Kosovo. Serbians denied removing their forces from Kosovo, thus NATO decided to use force against them to prevent further violence. Air operations in OAF had two major goals: one was interdiction to keep the Serbian Army out of Kosovo, the other is close air support ( CAS). To reach the first goal, roads, bridges and routes along with strategic military objects and installations were targeted with weaponry most appropriate for these purposes. For the second goal, usual CAS weaponry were used - note that CAS was a quite new kind of operations for the Strike Eagles at that time (however common it is today). GBU-28A/B 'Bunker Buster' bombs were used against hardened targets. Although the Strike Eagle is able to carry the GBU-28 only on the centerline pylon (STA-5, see External Stores), layouts with GBU-28 are not depicted here, since we do not have exact info on the use of other weapons within the same GBU-28 loadout. F-15E units involved in the conflict were the 492nd FS (Madhatters) and the 494th FS (Panthers) from RAF Lakenheath, England. Sorties were flown either from Aviano AB, Italy or directly from RAF Lakenheath. Loadout #1 - Bunker BustingThis loadout is used exclusively against hardened targets by utilizing the penetration power of the heavy GBU-24 guided bomb. The usual A/A missile load is used, plus drop tanks for longer range.
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Photos: Loadout #2 - Close Air SupportDue to the pinpoint accuracy and relatively little collateral damage caused, GBU-12 is an ideal bomb for CAS purposes, especially when moving vehicles are required to hit. This loadout uses 4 GBU-12's, plus the usual A/A missile load. Drop tanks were standard during OAF to give the jets extended range and patrol time.
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Photos:
Loadout #3 - Remote StrikeThis loadout is built around the AGM-130, which is a long-range, electro-optically guided, powered glide bomb with a huge warhead. The AGM-130 requires the use of the AN/AXQ-14 Data Link Pod. The DLP can be attached only to the centerline pylon, so only the wing pylons remain for the AGM-130's, because due to its huge wingspan, the weapon cannot be fitted to any of the CFT bomb racks. The same huge winspan prevents the AIM-120 AMRAAM from being carried in this loadout (the Sidewinder is small enough to be fitted on the same wing pylon). Because both the centerline pylon and the two wing pylons are already occupied, drop tanks have no place in this configuration either.
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Photos: No photos are available for this loadout configuration.
Loadout #4 - Load of JusticeThis loadout is a very flexible one in the Close Air Support role. GBU-12's are for individual pinpointed targets (either moving or stationary), while CBU-87's are for area type (soft) targets - that is mostly unarmored vehicles and exposed troops. The usual A/A missile load is used, plus drop tanks for longer range and extended patrol time. Note that despite almost all external hardpoints are occupied, the F-15E carries this enormous payload with relative ease - there is still capacity for almost 5,000 lbs of excess weight.
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Weight distribution:
Photos: No photos are available for this loadout configuration.
Loadout #5 - Asymmetric StandoffThe core of this loadout configuration is the huge AGM-130 A/G missile. It is so big that it can be hung only on the wing pylons, while it requires a data link pod for guidance on the centerline pylon. This loadout uses only one AGM-130 and a drop tank on the other side which is a rather asymmetric loadout. Two GBU-12's give some LGB capability to the jet, while only 1 AMRAAM is carried, because AMRAAM and AGM-130 cannot be fit together on the same wing pylon. Note that this loadout is the mirror image of OIF Loadout #9.
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Photos:
DisclaimerPlease note that this list is by no means complete. If you have any solid information (or better yet: photos) of other loadouts used in this conflict, do not hesitate, please feel free to drop us an email to: Ezt a címet a spamrobotok ellen védjük. Engedélyezd a Javascript használatát, hogy megtekinthesd. . We at F-15E.info always do our best to comply with OPSEC/COMSEC rules. All information presented here is based on public domain information and/or material previously cleared for official release by USAF. Sources
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| Módosítás dátuma: 2011. május 31. kedd |
In this article we list 5 typical F-15E Strike Eagle loadout configurations used in Operation 'Allied Force' (OAF).
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