F18 air to ground

[JD]

What is your favorite air to ground weapon in the f18, if the target isn't moving. Or what do you think is the strongest/best allrounder in air to ground weapons?

[Jel]

GBU38 is the allround workhorse for me.

[spike2071]

Originally posted by Jel:

GBU38 is the allround workhorse for me.

Not as fun as toss bombing over some mointains while dodging SAMs and AAA, but the GBU 3x bombs are the safest, easiest, and most accurate bombs for stationary targets.

[Czar]

Originally posted by spike2071:

Originally posted by Jel:

GBU38 is the allround workhorse for me.

Not as fun as toss bombing over some mointains while dodging SAMs and AAA, but the GBU 3x bombs are the safest, easiest, and most accurate bombs for stationary targets.

You can toss them over mountains given you have the TGT coordinates on them. GBU-31s will toss better than 38s, careful with the later.

[Czar]

Originally posted by Morgan Notfreeman:

What is your favorite air to ground weapon in the f18, if the target isn't moving. Or what do you think is the strongest/best allrounder in air to ground weapons?

If the air defenses are only non-radar aided AAA, 4x Mk-83 on double racks will get you a lot of fire power and make sure the target gets destroyed along with other assets if they are close enough. 4x Mk-83s are quite a punch and devastating to targets cluttered up close together. If there are Sa-8s, 13, 15 in area, 2x GBU-38s on each station might be the way to go.

I've been running 2x GBU-12 + 2x GBU-38s along with A-A on the viper and hornet for quite a while for dynamic scenarios. That gave me a lot of flexibility for moving and stationary targets and Sa-2/3/6... Can't go wrong with GBU-31s for a hit and run strike either.

Dumb bombs are fun, laser and GPS does tactical work. Is really a matter of preference. Can't go wrong with lasers.

If you're running with 2 bags of fuel, also there is the possibility to mount 2x Mk-83 on the belly besides the ordinance loaded on outer stations.

Asymmetric loadouts are also quite interesting. 1x Harm on a inner pylon together with a fuel tank on the opposite side bundled with a center tank + 2x GBU-12/38 + 2x GBU-38s is also quite a strong one.

Imagination is the limit.

Happy flying! :D

[SSerponi76]

For a static target JDAMs for sure

[Onno]

For static targets I think JSOWs are nice. For moving targets I prefer AGM-65H. Best all-rounder is the GBU-12, but the effective range is a bit shorter than I would like it to be, which makes it harder to use in contested areas.