Attack Profiles

These markers will reflect the mission goals. You usually must destroy each DMPI to receive a successful rating (this is dependent on how the mission was designed). Look at each DMPI and its relative location to other objects nearby. Close scrutinization should reveal a pattern in the object deployment that you can use to target from. Certain target types have a repeating pattern (Large SAMs in star shape, Fixed SCUD location like a smiley face).

Step 3 - Depending on how many DPMIs exist and how many planes in your flight exist, you may want to double up or reassign targets. Take the toughest one for yourself. AI wingmen generally do not have a problem locating targets like you do, but they may get shot down on ingress. You can re-designate to spread out the area effect of the blasts. This way you can kill more will less - though make sure each DMPI is covered properly.

Step 4 - Plan your route and ingress formation carefully. Make sure you give yourself enough time and altitude to do a proper HRM. Start with a medium resolution and then get a finer one. This will allow you to orient yourself from the information you gathered in Step 1.

Step 5 - Plan your ordnance carefully. Study the target type and what type of bomb will be required to destroy it. In the case of Fixed SCUD sites, CBUs do not do a good job - go for Mk82s/84s. Set up your bombs to ripple delivery to create a wide swath of destruction. You AI wingmen will probably only drop 2 bombs per run, so its better that you do as much destruction as possible in your run.

Step 6 - Make your attack run and don't forget to command your flight to attack. Try very hard to only make one attack run. Each subsequent run on the target only increases your flight's chances of taking causalities. The SAM/AAA AI will start to key in on you, so a second run will probably get you shot down!

Weapon Release Preferences

One of them most confusing things to me was the Weapon Release Option (WRO) and its related settings. It was not so much that I didn’t understand what it did, but it was in determining the best settings. When was it more proper to use the 1/STA vs. RP SGL? When was RP MPL called for? What is the optimum CBU Height of Burst (HOB)? What is the optimum Weapon Release Interval (WRI)?

Let’s list the various WROs and the related settings:

• Weapon Station Selection
• Set Release Quantity
• Bomb Release Modes
• Weapon Release Options (1/STA, RP SGL, RP MPL)
• Set Weapon Release Interval
• CBU Height of Burst (HOB)

Weapon Station Selection – Depending what ordnance you have loaded up, you may have the option of enabling the PBs that correspond to the various weapons stations on the F-15: Left Wing, Left Conformal, Center Line, Right Conformal, and Right Wing. There are really only two questions to answer here: which bomb to you want, and for that bomb - how many stations to you want to enable.

You cannot enable the weapons stations from two different ordnance types, so stick with the primary bomb of choice when setting up for your attack run. In the event that you have dumb/smart bombs loaded plus Mavericks, enable the dumb/smarts first and use the AGM-65 to mop up later or during a (heaven forbid!) second pass or secondary target run.

Since it is better according to aerodynamic and gravity principals to distribute the drag and weight evenly, it would make better sense to enable corresponding weapons stations for the ordnance you want selected (i.e. enable Left Conformal and Right Conformal simultaneously). You can use the WROs to control how many bombs to drop on each pass.

Set Release Quantity – One thing to keep in mind here: this setting only affects how many bombs are dropped when the RP SGL and RP MPL options are selected. 1/STA is not effected because its purpose is to only drop one bomb per selected weapons station regardless.

Setting the release quantity will depend on the five attack profile selections factors noted above. Also, refresh you memory by reading the F-15 Tips and Tactics article "ordnance Selection and Delivery". Depending on what type of target you have, you may need to drop more of what you are carrying. If you are using PGMs, you will want to keep the number low, as they are generally more accurate. If you are using unguided iron or cluster bombs, you may want a maximum area effect so select more.

Typically what I do is to select 1 or 2 for PGMs (soft or hard targets) or half of my bomb load if I am carrying iron/cluster bombs. Of course this is mission-specific and you will have to be the final judge based on your mission profile.

Bomb Release Modes – There are three bombing modes provided in F-15. The bomb release mode controls what symbology appears on the HUD to guide you to weapons release.

CDIP – Continuously Displayed Impact Point – This is a manual release option that allows to you press the pickle button and release the weapons on-cue. A small circle appears on the HUD and is provided to show the pilot exactly where the bombs will hit. Because the mode can be less accurate than AUTO and AUTO LOFT, you should only use it when conditions call for it such as when a visual quick snapshot release is called for with no time to generate a patch map.

Click to continue . . .

AUTO – Automatic – AUTO is the primary delivery mode used in the F-15E. Use this mode when accuracy is at a premium, such as when you are using LGBs or dumb bombs from medium/high altitude. Although this mode does not require that a patch map be generated (you can place the HUD designator in priority with AUTO) you should probably try to create one, especially for smaller targets. This is because the patch map designation process is more precise and can be done at a greater distance to allow for steering corrections.

Remember, AUTO bomb mode designates a point on the ground, not an above ground object. As a result AUTO mode should not be used for designation of moving targets. The computer automatically controls the exact time of release, and the pickle button should be depressed just prior to the TREL countdown reaching zero.

Like AUTO mode, AUTO LOFT mode allows you to designate a point on the ground. The difference between AUTO and AUTO LOFT is in the attack profile. With AUTO mode, the preferred method of attack is a Level approach. AUTO LOFT requires a Loft Delivery profile (see above).

When in AUTO LOFT mode, the computer calculates the TPULL and TREL based on your current flight path and angle of attack. These numbers may be re-adjusted or even roll back a bit if you change your heading/AoA rapidly. The computer automatically controls the exact time of release, and the pickle button should be depressed just prior to the TREL countdown reaching zero.

Weapon Release Options – There are three WROs that control how the bombs are released from their stations. Depending on what ordnance you are carrying and what your target is, you can select WROs that correspond to a single PGM release to a massive carpet bombing barrage.

1/STA (One Per Station) - The 1/STA is used when only one bomb from each selected station is desired for release per each press of the pickle button. Quantity and interval settings are ignored. Bomb release on every enabled station is done simultaneously. This setting is a safe bet when using PGMs.

RP SGL (Ripple Single) - When the ripple single options is selected, bombs are released one at a time from each of the selected stations. The total number of bombs dropped is determined by the quantity setting and the distance between releases is determined by the interval setting. This setting is best used to carpet the target in a barrage fashion. You can also place your target designation a little before the target. This will increase the swath of destruction as the bombs are spread out the greatest distance along your aircraft’s heading.

RP MPL (Ripple Multiple) - When the ripple multiple option is selected, one weapon is release from all selected stations with each drop. The total number of bombs dropped is determined by the quantity setting, the number of bombs dropped with each release is controlled by the number of stations selected, and the distance between releases is controlled by the interval setting.

In other words, the number set for the quantity determines the total number of bombs released with each press of the pickle button. If the number of bombs specified in the quantity exceed the number of selected stations, the remaining bombs specified in the quantity will be dropped at a distance specified in the interval. If the number of bombs selected in the quantity represents a number less than the number of selected stations, then only that number of bombs specified in the quantity will be dropped.

This is a good way to drop a lot of ordnance in a small target area. Since each selected station’s ordnance is dropped at the same time, the blast effect of the combined bomb drop is enhanced. Use this setting when you want to put a lot of bombs on the target, but the target is in a confined or limited space.

Set Weapon Release Interval – Intervals are given in feet of weapon range (i.e. how many feet from the first weapon the second weapon will impact the ground). You must specify an interval for weapons release when either the RP SGL or RP MPL is active.

The default number of 320 feet is probably adequate if you are dropping 2000 lb. bombs. I normally would adjust the WRI to a bit less (100-200 ft.) if I have 500 pounders or CBUs on-board to account for their smaller blast pattern. Smaller WRIs can also be entered if you want to place a lot of ordnance close to a well defined target such as a SAM/EW site, mobile targets, or SCUD launchers.

CBU Height of Burst (HOB) – Although you can adjust this parameter with any ordnance loaded, the CBU HOB is only enabled when you have CBUs or Mk20s loaded. CBUs have different radii of effect, depending on the size and type and the height above the ground at which they explode. As a result, you have control over the blast size and density pattern. The higher the CBU releases its sub-munitions, the larger the area it will damage, but the less intense the damage will be.

Typically I will set the CBU HOB in the range of 600-1000ft. This I feel gives me the best compromise between blast radius and density. Smaller, harder targets such as ships and tanks will be destroyed more readily with smaller HOB settings will larger, softer targets such as POL facilities and troops can be destroyed with larger HOB settings. It makes sense to practice with your CBU of choice prior to the mission to get the feel of how the ordnance will deploy.

Thanks to Neil, Bubba, and Garra for their insight and input on this article. Special thanks to Capt. Sean Long for his interest in keeping us common folk in-the know.

Write to Snacko with your questions and comments.