JSF and close air support

"Peter Kemp" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:33:11 -0500, "Kevin Brooks"
wrote:

"Rob van Riel" wrote in message
. com...
Perhaps
this is not overly relevant when engaged in wholesale warfare, with
hordes
of
Apaches to take care of targets of opportunity/necessaty (SP?), but how
much of
a problem would it present in a small scale bush fire war? Is my idea
of
CAS
totally outdated? Or am I mistaken about the capabilities of weapons
like
JDAM?

To a certain extent it is likely a bit dated. We are now producing the
Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile, which features the capability of being
retargeted in flight--the Navy's SLAM-ER ATA already has that capability.
So
programming the coordinates for SDB's or larger JDAM's into them while
enroute to the target is not going to be a big deal. Nor will these be
the
only weapons used by the F-35 in the CAS arena.

Quick update. The ability to update target coordinates for JDAMs in
flight is currently being trialled under the Affordable Moving Surface
Target Engagement (AMSTE) - at least I think that's what the acronym
expands to.

Interesting info. But I think we may be talking in different directions a
bit. What I meant by "enroute to the target" was while it is still on the
rail of the launching aircraft. Maybe my adding "is not going to be a big
deal" was a poor choice of wording, as JDAM can already be loaded with its
target coordinates while it is hanging on an aircraft approaching the
release point. Apologies for the less than clear wording.

Brooks


Basically two off board SAR radars provide updates - IIRC the trials
are using a JSTARS and a phased array (I think from the F-35 program,
but can't readily recall). The first fe test shots have provided CEP
of the order of 10m, so eneough to get a kill on truck and light
armour. I imagine by the time JSF reaches squadron service this will
be more routine (perhaps once coords are passed by the ground troops
the F-35 radar will lock on to the SAR return of teh target
automatically.

There are also demos in progress for cheap IIR seekers to strap to the
fron of JDAMs.

---
Peter Kemp

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