Message posted by Magoo on March 24, 2003 at 21:06:33 PST:

This downing of the Apache goes to prove that the coalition is missing one of the most valuable assets from the first Gulf War. The F-111Fs killed more than 600 Iraqi tanks in Desert Storm by 'plinking' them, that is, hitting them with 500lb LGBs from a stand-off distance of 3+ miles in a toss maneouver at 400+ knots.

The Republican Guard armoured units are surrounded by anti-aircraft units. An Apache has to hover or fly directly towards the target to fire its Hellfire missiles, and is much more vulnerable to small arms fire or AAA. The F-15E can do what the F-111s did, but not at the same ranges or with the same low-level ingress-egree performance.

Perhaps Richard Cliff can confirm whether the Tornado/Brimstone combination has been declared operational or is still in test phase. This would go some way towards meeting this operational requirement, althopugh I doubt a Hellfire/Brimstone has the same effect as a diving 500lb LGB against a tank

Magoo

In Reply to: Downed Longbow (OT) posted by Chris McDowell on March 24, 2003 at 14:40:09 PST:

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