Would any fighter jet use it's cannons on ground targets?

[nick20404]

As many said in this thread yes.

LiveLeak.com - U.S. Air Force Strafing Attack On Insurgents In Iraq

(WARNING)Video is somewhat graphic.

[cplgangster]

ive always wonderd if anyone on the ground ever got hit by like the MG fire in the dog fighting of the old ww2 planes and stuff. How ever like said im sure they can so yeh i would see it as a legit thing.

[[R-DEV]Tim270]

Does make sense that they would, however I think bombs and other ordinance have more preference, for example most of the combat footage I have seen in Afg is done in and around compounds and a bomb is a lot more effective at clearing them than a strafing run. Also, it might be exposing the aircraft to a lot more low level AA fire.

[SuperTimo]

i believe they do if required. If you watch ross kemp, return to Afghanistan they call in for an F-18 strafing run.

[Alex6714]

Originally Posted by Tim270

Does make sense that they would, however I think bombs and other ordinance have more preference, for example most of the combat footage I have seen in Afg is done in and around compounds and a bomb is a lot more effective at clearing them than a strafing run. Also, it might be exposing the aircraft to a lot more low level AA fire.

Whatever is the required force for the job I would think would take preference.


But remember, most of these cannons may not be gau-8s, but they are similar to your friendly APC cannons on steroids.

I think the Mig cannon is also 30mm? Its like having an BTR90 fire at you or similar, except at 2000rpm, or an LAV at 6000rpm.

[hiberNative]

Originally Posted by nick20404

As many said in this thread yes.

LiveLeak.com - U.S. Air Force Strafing Attack On Insurgents In Iraq

(WARNING)Video is somewhat graphic.

hmm, that looked pretty weak and way too spread out. the people in teh car just ran and then might have survived anyway.
compare that run to the effectiveness of the apache.

[[R-DEV]Eddie Baker]

Originally Posted by [EC]DR.NOobFragger

Sorry if this is not a place to ask questions or what not but I was wondering if in real life would an F-15 or any other similar fighter jet would use its cannon on ground targets such as a truck or maybe APC?

F-15Es have done so quite frequently in Afghanistan, including at what is now known as The Battle of Roberts' Ridge.

[CAS_117]

They did it for lulz:

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It was during one of these CAP missions, at 2:00am on January 30 that two Canadian pilots, Maj. David “DW” Kendall and Capt. Steve “Hillbilly” Hill were called upon to attack an Iraqi patrol boat, a TCN-45 which carry the deadly anti-ship Exocet missile and anti-aircraft guns. Both aircraft strafed the speeding boat, well illuminated by moonlight, with observed 20 mm cannon hits. Passes were made to try a weapons system lock for the-air-to ground Sidewinder, but the boat’s heat signature was insufficient. In a subsequent pass, Kendall received a full system lock on air-to-air mode and launched a Sparrow missile which impacted the water close to the boat. This event represented the first instance of Canadian forces firing on an enemy in a declared combat since the Korean War. Otherwise however, CAP missions proved to be relatively routine. The armourers were frustrated with the lack of work.

[OriginalWarrior]

HooaH

Strafing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[xatu miller]

Originally Posted by Tim270

Does make sense that they would, however I think bombs and other ordinance have more preference, for example most of the combat footage I have seen in Afg is done in and around compounds and a bomb is a lot more effective at clearing them than a strafing run. Also, it might be exposing the aircraft to a lot more low level AA fire.

Bombs are used in cases where the target is in a area where it wouldn't hurt civilians and friendly and would not cause big damage to urban areas. For example a Coalition convoy is attacked in a urban area. The attackers are 70 meters east of the road. The civilians are between the attackers and friendly. Now in this case you would never use a 500lbs air burst wouldn't you? In this situation light weapons(if you can call them that) come in handy such as 70mm rockets or cannons because they will not cause huge collateral damage that would hurt civilians and friendlys.

The SAM danger in Afghanistan and Iraq exists although its not big. In both of those country there are only around 200 active sams. Most of them are kept close to clan leaders and once fired they cannot be reloaded. Dushkas and other anti-aircraft cannons are more common although are significantly less accurate.