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

[Sinn_Ah_Taggh]

Originally Posted by CAS_117

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.

Why would the pilot use air-to-air weapons system for gunstrafing a boat?

Both the AIM-9 and AIM 7 is air-to-air weapons and i doubt they could/would be used for attacking ground targets..

AIM-9 Sidewinder
AIM-7 Sparrow

[Teek]

Originally Posted by Sinn_Ah_Taggh

Why would the pilot use air-to-air weapons system for gunstrafing a boat?

Both the AIM-9 and AIM 7 is air-to-air weapons and i doubt they could/would be used for attacking ground targets..

AIM-9 Sidewinder
AIM-7 Sparrow

They where on a CAP mission, Combat Air Patrol, thus they had a load out for air combat (non-existent for the most part in Iraq) so they used what they had on hand, heat guided missiles.

[DankE_SPB]

if missile can lock on something, why not use it? ofc, if you have cannon, air-to-ground munitions you will use them, but if conditions allow to use AA weapons on ground its better than nothing
as example you can take Tunguska, some naval SAM systems, which can attack ground targets

[Alex6714]

If you can get a lock, why not? Its a missile packed with explosives.

[Sinn_Ah_Taggh]

Originally Posted by Alex6714

If you can get a lock, why not? Its a missile packed with explosives.

I agree with that,you fire what you have,but it still sounds a bit wierd that they use air-to-ground trageting for a air-to-air missile.

But if they have a priorety threat and dont have the appropriate weapons for the spesific task they must use what they have.

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.

I guess this qualifys as a prioretied target..

It is stated in the article that the candian 409 Squadron was sent in to do CAS missions to combat the Iraqi airforce using MIG´s and F-1 Mirage fighters.

This multi-mission, all-weather McDonnell Douglas fighter and attack aircraft performed three distinct types of missions, representing Canada well during the Gulf War. First and primary during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, CF-18’s flew CAP, placing themselves between the allied ships in the Gulf and the threat of attack from Saddam Hussein’s air force, including Iraqi F-1 Mirage and MIG fighters. The same task was also performed over Saudi Arabia, protecting coalition ground forces and air forces from the threat.

Aviation Art-Original Canadian Landscape Paintings-Limited Edition Giclée Prints-Catalog Shopping-Rich Thistle Studio

[Punkbuster]

They use 20MM machinegun in the Cobra why not to use it in an F-15???

[waldo_ii]

Because the cobra is stationary, has a pilot dedicated to using the cannon and other munitions, has enough ammo to properly engage multiple targets, and the turret can move so it can easily engage multiple targets in multiple places but also track moving targets, whearas a jet has to move the entire body of the plane in order to move the turret and is busy traveling at 600 mph so it can't properly identify and carefully engage targets with nearly enough precision?


Whew, that was a long sentence.

[Morgan]

There's been instances of Jet's/Apaches using flares as weapons to deter the insurgants from attacking troops on the ground. Either as a show of force, usually by the jets as they pass over (source is Ground Truth, a book by Patrick Bishop) or British Apache's (source is Apache Dawn, can't remember the author) used it when they had no more Hellfire's, Flechetter rockets or 30mm to scare off some Taliban.

So, I reckon, as has already proved to be true, that jets would use their cannons on ground targets...

[Hitman.2.5]

Originally Posted by gazzthompson

A-10 isnt a fighter jet.

Correctomundo!

[Solid Knight]

Well many US jets use the M61 which the M197 derives from which is used on the Cobra. The M61 shoots significantly faster than the M197.

Regarding using flares against infantry. You can, fly low enough and drop a crap ton of them and you'll probably burn somebody.

Now here's an interesting question, I wonder if a jet that was low on ammunition used the exhaust and ear exploded noise of its engines against infantry. I'd imagine that a jet throwing on it's afterburners a few feet above a person's head would just out right kill them.