<XMP><BODY></xmp>rearbombs





Updated 19-4-2011
Rear Bombs and SEAD Missiles.

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/6747/rearbombs.htm
More recent article on G2mil

        An idea of Carlton Meyer's is for rearward released airburst bombs to discourage ground defences or pursuing aircraft.

        "Attack aircraft can make a quantum leap in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) by developing a Timed Universal Rearward Destroyer (TURD) airburst bomb.
        A TURD will be a MK 82 500 lb general purpose bomb with a BSU-49/B high-drag kit called a "ballute" that inflates and act as a parachute to rapidly slow the forward movement of the bomb. Drag kits are used to prevent aircraft from being damaged by their own bombs during low-level attack missions. However, if these bombs were also fitted with a timed detonator for airburst, TURDs will prove valuable in combat operations.
        In high threat environments, an attack aircraft can release a TURD after it pulls away from a target. A TURD exploding in mid-air behind an attack aircraft may not destroy enemy SAMs in flight, but the airburst of a 500 lb bomb will confuse heat-seeking missiles, blind radar systems with "snow", and distract the aim of AAA gunners. Aircraft at higher altitudes can drop a TURD to shake-off or destroy a pursuing missile".

        This idea is not unknown in RAF circles:

        'Buccaneer pilots had another self-defense option, however: they could drop a 450 kilogram (1,000 pound) parachute-retarded bomb while operating at low level over water to discourage a fighter pressing them from the rear. This practice was known as "retard defense", or more informally as "dropping your knickers".'
Vector site on the Buccaneer.
        This idea could be improved on if constructed as a sort of cluster bomb.

        The bomb would contain munitions that produce chaff, IR decoys, fragments, smoke and engine fouling elements. The latter are materials that would be sucked into a jet intake and would foul or damage the engine. Certain of the above munitions may perform multiple functions. Chaff may also be designed to foul engines and flares may also produce smoke. Detonation of such a bomb would hide the aircraft from a gunner or pursuer over a broad part of the spectrum. The presence of the exploding fragmentation grenades and fouling materials would also make flying through the cloud or being beneath it highly hazardous.

        Another idea that I have had is of a short-range radar guided defence suppression missile, which can be released by aircraft as they come under ground fire. The radar element would probably home on the emissions of ZSU-23 radar or similar systems. The weapon would also home in on AAA that turn off their radar and attempt to change position or be guided by other threat sources such as the sound of gunfire. A rearward released bomb could use the same form of guidance to suppress ground fire.

FEEDBACK
Carlton Meyer, Editor of G2mil writes:-
         "The US military already developed a small anti-radar missile. The AGM-122 Sidearm can be carried on the Army AH 64A/D Apache and Marine Corps AH-1W/Z SuperCobra attack helicopters for self defense against anti aircraft gun and SAM radars.  (details at FAS)  I don't understand why these are not used by attack aircraft.  More advanced versions may be able to down radar emitting fighters head on, or even shoot down self-guided radar missiles like the AIM-120 AMRAAM."

Update.
        “Since July 1944 many Soviet bombers were equipped with special package DAG-10 for 10 2-kg air grenades AG-2 (those spherical grenades with parachute exploded in 3-4 s after release and destroyed attacking fighters by 130 fragments (weight 3-80 g) within a radius of 10-50 m). Also DAG-5 were used for 5 air grenades. In principle AG-1/AG-2 air grenades were developed for the rear defense of battle planes IL-2 (first single-seat modifications without gunner) in 1941. Used quite widely since the middle 1942.
         DAG means Derzhatel' Aviatsionnyh Granat = Rack for Air Grenades”
Axis History Forum

        “One interesting detail concerning the Pe-2 was its use of the AG-2 aerial grenade. A store of them were carried in the tail, to be ejected and explode about 80 meters (260 feet) behind the aircraft and scatter shrapnel in the path of a pursuer. The Soviets claimed that about 1 out of every 5 aerial kills obtained by the Pe-2 were obtained with this weapon.”
Petlyakov Pe-2 at Vectorsite.

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