Could US send B-2 bombers to bomb Iranian air force on the ground?
- Thread starter sunjerem
- Start date
I am sure that the development of "bunker buster" style bombs would have increased significantly since the start of military operations in Afghanistan.Waylander said:
I am sure that given enough intelligence and firepower the USAF could punch a sever hole in the Iranian nuclear production.
Definitely, the USAF has receieved a newer version of the bunker buster in the last few months and can be dropped by an F-15E. Alot of people say that other countries air forces are catching up on the US, i think the opposite is happenings, the US has grown an insane lead. The enemy getting a squadron of advanced fighters means nothing.jenningsc said:
The US air force has the same advantage over North Korea and Iran as it did over Iraq in the first gulf war. Iraq was a pushover for the airforce and so would North Korea and Iran.
I sound so pro american..
Grand Danois
Entertainer
But that is the reality, so it isn't necessarily pro-American.rjmaz1 said:Definitely, the USAF has receieved a newer version of the bunker buster in the last few months and can be dropped by an F-15E. Alot of people say that other countries air forces are catching up on the US, i think the opposite is happenings, the US has grown an insane lead. The enemy getting a squadron of advanced fighters means nothing.
The US air force has the same advantage over North Korea and Iran as it did over Iraq in the first gulf war. Iraq was a pushover for the airforce and so would North Korea and Iran.
I sound so pro american..
If the AF's of NK and iran were to 'get the treatment' by the USAF, they would take the same (or worse!) beating of the Iraqi 1991 AF in days instead of in weeks.
RubiconNZ
The Wanderer
Would it be fair to say the the biggest problem to overcome would be the SAM's? Would it be the MANPADS or the networked systems that creat the most difficulties?Grand Danois said:But that is the reality, so it isn't necessarily pro-American.
If the AF's of NK and iran were to 'get the treatment' by the USAF, they would take the same (or worse!) beating of the Iraqi 1991 AF in days instead of in weeks.
Grand Danois
Entertainer
IMV the GBAD is more of a threat than the fighters of said nations. That because they require fixed infrastructure, and when they enter the fray by going airborne, they will be picked up immediately by the ISR assets of the US and engaged. Survivability of their fighters would be a function of how hard an attack is pressed and of US availability of assets to pursue.robsta83 said:
That being said it could be possible to spring a quick attack with light fighters or a F-14 could get lucky with an air launched Hawk. Who knows?
I would guess retention of defending air assets also put restrictions on the mission planning of the offense, diminishing effectiveness by having a "fleet in being."
MANPADS/AAA would be able to defend against cruise missiles and low flying UAV's. The expensive assets are unlikely to enter - what I have seen it referred to - the "trashfire envelope."
I would consider the most capable part the integrated SAM network, though density and sophistication would be less than that of the Iraqi defenses during Desert Storm. Also, at least the Iranian system is configured in a point defense mode.
However, there could be very capable systems like the Tor M1 that could make things difficult.
What has really changed is the US ability to hit more targets and in standoff modes. The availability of cruise missiles is much higher and the target set it is possible to engage with CM's has expanded. The JDAM makes it possible to hit a huge number of aimpoints. And at a distance from target.
It is not necessary to do a Tornado pass over a defended airfield to enable the JP 233 to sprinkle the runway with bomblets.
To put some idea on what the JDAM does, I would hazard an estimate of at least 50,000 JDAM currently in US inventory with growing numbers. As contrast IIRC 7,500 was used for the maneuver war of OIF and a similar number in Afghanistan. The US wouldn't have these numbers if they weren't able to deliver them...
MANPADS are out of the question as all the aircraft including the stealth ones can attack at standoff range. Even the most powerful radar on a SAM site would be lucky to detect an F-22 or B-2 50 miles away. That would be when the bomb bay doors are opening and the bombs are now on there way to the SAM site.robsta83 said:
F-22's would slice through even the most dense air defence systems and ripple off a single Small diameter bomb at each SAM site on the way through.
I still doubt that the US would use B-2's on the first wave as they are too expensive and it would look very bad if Iran had something secret and shot one down. They'd first dip their toes in the water with F-22's and cruise missiles. If Iran has a technique to help detect stealth aircraft slightly earlier than usual the F-22 will be the only aircraft that would not be a sitting duck.
Very shortly the US will have all of its B-2 and F-22's cleared to drop Small diameter bombs and will have enough SDB's to kick down their door.
Like Grand Danois said about the tornado's aircraft dont have to go close to their target anymore. Night vision, SAR and laser guided GPS weapons allow runways, airbases power stations to be all taken out without the aircraft even approaching within 20 miles of the target. A single B-2 could drop 20 SDB's onto each military base and make it unususable, every one of Irans airbases could be taken out within an hour.
Grand Danois
Entertainer
I don't think the US would risk compromising the aircraft that is supposed to give it air dominance for the decades to come, by committing it where it is not really needed. Yes, I'm talking about the F-22.
I would think F-117 and B-2 would be used. The latter providing sheer volume.
The B-1B is said to be able to take 192 SDB's. That makes it possible for one aircraft to take out everything on an entire airbase in a single sortie. Search radars, weather radars, ILS, HAS', munitions bunkers, runways, depots, fuel, barracks, control facilities. You name it...
I would think F-117 and B-2 would be used. The latter providing sheer volume.
The B-1B is said to be able to take 192 SDB's. That makes it possible for one aircraft to take out everything on an entire airbase in a single sortie. Search radars, weather radars, ILS, HAS', munitions bunkers, runways, depots, fuel, barracks, control facilities. You name it...
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Ozzy Blizzard
New Member
Did the iranians get any AIM 54's when they bought the cats? i know it was a while ago but if any were servicable they could cause some headaches for an F15, not a Raptor though. Or if they got really really really lucky an AWACS.
Ozzy Blizzard said:
Yes. When they got the cats they also got 270 AIM-54's. Best estimates indicate that they have somewhere in the area of 64 that are still usuable and may have reversed engineered another 30+. The Iranian F-14's were very successful in the 1980's war against Iraq with the AIM-54's and they could certainly pose probelms for a US air strike (I would take them out first). It is believed that they have about 30 in service and are in the process od upgrading another 15 or so to put back into service.
Ozzy Blizzard
New Member
are they the ones with an anti radiation capibility, AIM 54c i think? if they are then i'd be keeping my airbourne radar close with a healthy escort. Although even screaming at an AWACs at mach 2+ with most of there cat force they would probably be cut to pieces by a hail of AIM 120's but they might get lucky.
As fas as I know they do not hae an ARM capability. A threat certainly, but nothing that cannot be dealt with by strikes on their airbases and F-22's (if we had somewhere in the mideast within range ot base them.
Scorpion82
New Member
Lol, that kind of warfare is completly new to me. How does it function? Sending monkeys which are stronger than humans as a kind of super soldiers?
Just kidding
:Grand Danois
Entertainer
Gorilla is the next step from chimp warfare. It's only a matter of time before the GORILLA's will be fielded.Lol, that kind of warfare is completly new to me. How does it function? Sending monkeys which are stronger than humans as a kind of super soldiers?
Just kidding
Ozzy Blizzard
New Member
Ha Ha Ha!!!!!! That picture is classic!!!! nfloorl: Can i scab it for my avitar??? PLEASE?????
nfloorl: Can i scab it for my avitar??? PLEASE?????Grand Danois
Entertainer
Argh! You got me. AGAIN!Ha Ha Ha!!!!!! That picture is classic!!!!
Oh well, I guess it evens things out with the Luxembourg Air Force.