FUEL-AIR BOMB --- KABOOOOOOOOM

DOD INFO ^ | 1998 | John Pike

[doug from upland]

GRAPHICS HERE

CBU-72 / BLU-73/B Fuel/Air Explosive (FAE) - Dumb Bombs

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CBU-72 / BLU-73/B Fuel/Air Explosive (FAE)

The the 550-pound CBU-72 cluster bomb contains three submunitions known as fuel/air explosive (FAE). The submunitions weigh approximately 100 pounds and contain 75 pounds of ethylene oxide with air-burst fuzing set for 30 feet. An aerosol cloud approximately 60 feet in diameter and 8 feet thick is created and ignited by an embedded detonator to produce an explosion. This cluster munition is effective against minefields, armored vehicles, aircraft parked in the open, and bunkers.

During Desert Storm the Marine Corps dropped all 254 CBU-72s, primarily from A-6Es, against mine fields and personnel in trenches. Some secondary explosions were noted when it was used as a mine clearer; however, FAE was primarily useful as a psychological weapon. Second-generation FAE weapons were developed from the FAE I type devices (CBU-55/72) used in Vietnam.

Specifications
Weight:	500 pounds
Length:	85.6 inches
Diameter:	14 inches
Guidance:	None
Control:	None
Autopilot:	None
Propulsion:	None
Warhead:	3 BLU-73/B Fuel
Fuse:	Mark 339 Mod 0 Mechanical
Aircraft

[NeonKnight]

I have spoken to many Naval Aviators who claim the F/A-18 to be the finest aircraft in the Navy's inventory. So while I can not personally say one way or the other, it sounds as though you may get an argument re: it being inferiour to a Tomcat/Bombcat

[USNFighting31st]

And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it."

[Taxman]

No doubt I will. Won't matter. The issue is settled: The F-14 will soon go the way of the Dodo bird.

Then, the people who have to live (and die) with the dumb decisions the political hacks make will realize just how big a mistake was made.

But, it won't matter. The issue is settled: The F-14 will be gone.

[NeonKnight]

You are correct, they will all be flying JSF's one day (Except the AF, which gets the F22.) Not a bad idea. Having a single aircraft is far more economical, allows for fewer maintenance personell, and better pilot utility.

[Taxman]

To the degree that the aircraft is not severely compromised in the attack or the fighter mode, you are correct.

I have been out of the loop for a long time, and it is possible, just possible, mind you, that the JSF is optimised for both missions. Time will tell.

In the meantime, the USN will make do:

"We have been doing so much with so little for so long,>BR> That we can now do everything with nothing."

"The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer."