Gaza Air War

[ORAC]

https://x.com/blocksixtynine/status/...HhlFHGKbTPQr_A

Captain Raz Peretz is the name inscribed on the bomb here. He recently died in the fighting, and this may indicate that the IAF is also utilizing its stocks of 750-pound M117 unguided bombs in the ongoing strikes.




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[NutLoose]

That top one looks to me like a concrete practice bomb, possibly used to drop buildings and avoid collateral?

[ORAC]

Reports on X of 747 supply flights from USA already arriving at IAF bases with PGMs.

I presume they’ll be after weapons with reduced collateral damage such as SDBs as well as bunker busters.

https://x.com/babaktaghvaee1/status/...HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
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[downsizer]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

That top one looks to me like a concrete practice bomb, possibly used to drop buildings and avoid collateral?

Yeah Prac bombs often have yellow haz bands.

[DuncanDoenitz]

Originally Posted by downsizer

Yeah Prac bombs often have yellow haz bands.

Dunno, but I'm not convinced that the F-16 photo is kosher;

1. The tip-mounted AMRAAM on 896 appears to be inert (I appreciate that, paragliders notwithstanding, the IDF probably enjoys air supremacy, and ballast missiles may be carried for CofG reasons).
2. Whats the blue AIM-9 shaped thingie that appears to be on the right wing-tip of the centre aircraft? Towed target? Towed decoy? Certainly lacks the AIM-9's rollerons.

[NutLoose]

Originally Posted by downsizer

Yeah Prac bombs often have yellow haz bands.

missed that

[downsizer]

Originally Posted by DuncanDoenitz

Dunno, but I'm not convinced that the F-16 photo is kosher;

1. The tip-mounted AMRAAM on 896 appears to be inert (I appreciate that, paragliders notwithstanding, the IDF probably enjoys air supremacy, and ballast missiles may be carried for CofG reasons).
2. Whats the blue AIM-9 shaped thingie that appears to be on the right wing-tip of the centre aircraft? Towed target? Towed decoy? Certainly lacks the AIM-9's rollerons.

That bomb is HE, whether or not it's being flown currently or the date of the picture I have no idea, and you are correct that the AMRAAM is a CATM.

[ORAC]

Weapon on the centre aircraft wingtip is a Python 4.

[downsizer]

Originally Posted by ORAC

Weapon on the centre aircraft wingtip is a Python 4.

Pretty sure it isn't.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_(missile)

[ORAC]

Well the tail fins look wrong for a Derby, and they thought they were the only two they carried on the wingtip station.

So what is it?

[downsizer]

Fairly certain it's a 9L Aquisition round.

[Lonewolf_50]

Originally Posted by DuncanDoenitz

Dunno, but I'm not convinced that the F-16 photo is kosher;

I saw what you did there.

[rattman]

Originally Posted by ORAC

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God they are fugly

[ORAC]

What happens to most young things when they put on so much weight and turn 50….

[NutLoose]

Well it does have excess baggage ORAC, Conformable fuel tanks and a bod in the back.

[ORAC]

Interesting if true, awaiting confirmation.

Israel has, it should be noted, been bombing Damascus and its surrounds on a regular basis over the last several years whenever Iran was involved.

https://x.com/visegrad24/status/1712...HhlFHGKbTPQr_A

BREAKING:

The Israel Air Force struck Damascus International Airport in Syria just minutes a plane with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on board.

Instead of landing, the plane is now heading home to Tehran.

[SASless]

Ah...but it can rapidly shed weight through exercise and work.

[unmanned_droid]

Originally Posted by ORAC

Captain Raz Peretz is the name inscribed on the bomb here. He recently died in the fighting, and this may indicate that the IAF is also utilizing its stocks of 750-pound M117 unguided bombs in the ongoing strikes.




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The countermeasure dispensers are also not filled. So I would say that the 3 ship is not from current events. However, to offer a counterpoint, I could see a fit of one training round and one live round on wingtip stations if absolutely everything is flying. They may not have or want to have missiles for every rail. There are things like flight hours on weapons to consider, especially considering that to begin with an actual air to air threat that would require an amraam would be very limited.

I have seen other photos today of F-16s equipped with 4 750lb HE unguided bombs:
https://x.com/OSINTNic/status/1712419597578555547?s=20

JDAM assembly line:
https://x.com/OSINTNic/status/1712476700918092269?s=20

[Diff Tail Shim]

Originally Posted by Bob Viking

I have been reading the Gaza thread on Jetblast with interest but I figured if ever there was a use for a military aviation forum this was it.

Bearing in mind one side has F16s and F35s and the other side has powered hang gliders it’s a little asymmetric to say the least but can this be the place we discuss all matters related to air power in the conflict?

BV

The video attached below is one of the most visceral and clear videos I’ve ever seen of the destructive power and accuracy of air launched munitions.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e5OhTspt0g8

One suspects all the IAF attacks are medium level. Last time I think anyone got close to shooting down a fast jet with an AK47 was a French Jaguar? The Jag was flying very low at the time over Al Jaber. Round scalped the pilots head.

[SLXOwft]

Originally Posted by ORAC

Interesting if true, awaiting confirmation.

Israel has, it should be noted, been bombing Damascus and its surrounds on a regular basis over the last several years whenever Iran was involved.


BREAKING:

The Israel Air Force struck Damascus International Airport in Syria just minutes a plane with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on board.

Instead of landing, the plane is now heading home to Tehran.

Multiple outlets reporting attacks on Damascus and Aleppo airports. Times of Israel state IDF refuses to comment - in line with normal practice regarding commenting on specific attacks on Syrian territory.

However:

The airstrikes came a day before Iran’s foreign minister was scheduled to visit Syria to meet officials over the volatile situation in the region.

On Tuesday, a number of mortars were fired from Syria at the Golan Heights. The IDF said several of the projectiles crossed into Israeli territory and landed in open areas, causing no damage.

The IDF said it carried out artillery strikes in Syria in response, targeting the origin of the mortar fire.