What the hell is this?! - Strike on ISIS

[bluecoconuts]

I read that the effective range for Tomahawk missiles is several hundred miles with that kind of precise accuracy.......is that correct?

Yeah, depending on the type they have a range from about 800-1500 miles, and are quite accurate as well. Almost all of our smart bombs are, unless something screws up, which does happen. My guess is the video those aren't tomahawks though.

Keep in mind I'm not an an expert so much, just information I picked up when calling for air support (knowing what we could and couldn't call for depending on where we were) and asking questions to the guys who were experts. If anyone has questions that are super technical I probably won't know. I was just a grunt.

 

[LesBaker]

Yeah, depending on the type they have a range from about 800-1500 miles, and are quite accurate as well. Almost all of our smart bombs are, unless something screws up, which does happen. My guess is the video those aren't tomahawks though.

Keep in mind I'm not an an expert so much, just information I picked up when calling for air support (knowing what we could and couldn't call for depending on where we were) and asking questions to the guys who were experts. If anyone has questions that are super technical I probably won't know. I was just a grunt.

I mentioned Tomahawks because some of what I read about the strikes talked about how they were using them.

I've watched some FLIR footage that someone showed me, so I've seen the accuracy of some missiles. I thought some of it was funny, especially this kind of thing:

 

[bluecoconuts]

Yeah, they will use different types depending on the target. Similar to when we bombed Iraq prior to the 03 invasion, use a little bit of everything.

Apaches are awesome, their missiles are guided, but the 30MM isn't.. That video is just a small example of how two of those can really lay waste to an area. If you watch close you can see some parts flying from the hellfire missiles, and the one guy hiding gets hit square in the chest with the 30MM. Pilots would show us these videos when we were overseas, some of them were like porn.

 

[ChrisW]

The F-22 Raptor was used in these strikes. You can see some of the accuracy of their ordinance from this video.

Also, question for you. What was taking the video of the attack? The Raptor doesn't have video capability like this. We have drones that can do this, but if the mission required stealth attack aircraft to avoid AA missiles, we don't have any active stealth drones that can loiter and take these videos. There are some experimental things, but aren't supposed to be operational yet.

 

[LesBaker]

Yeah, they will use different types depending on the target. Similar to when we bombed Iraq prior to the 03 invasion, use a little bit of everything.

Apaches are awesome, their missiles are guided, but the 30MM isn't.. That video is just a small example of how two of those can really lay waste to an area. If you watch close you can see some parts flying from the hellfire missiles, and the one guy hiding gets hit square in the chest with the 30MM. Pilots would show us these videos when we were overseas, some of them were like porn.

I've seen a couple where the Taliban fighter is actually blown into a few pieces. I'm not ashamed to admit I like seeing that either. I know that the rounds are essentially half a hand grenade so shooting them out like that is hellish for the bad guys.

 

[Ramhusker]

I haven't a clue if those were Tomahawks in that video. I just read where they used 47 Tomahawks the first night of bombing. Seeing as the US only has 100 on order for 2015 and none in 2016, it was curious as to why they would use so many on one night's targets. I know they are supposedly being replaced by better tech in the future so maybe just emptying the inventory? The cost of war is so mind-numbing.

 

[bluecoconuts]

The F-22 Raptor was used in these strikes. You can see some of the accuracy of their ordinance from this video.

Also, question for you. What was taking the video of the attack? The Raptor doesn't have video capability like this. We have drones that can do this, but if the mission required stealth attack aircraft to avoid AA missiles, we don't have any active stealth drones that can loiter and take these videos. There are some experimental things, but aren't supposed to be operational yet.

We have stealth drones or could have been a regular drone, or something that could have taken the video. A lot of our drones are more advanced than many think. Even back in the early days of Afghanistan, we had rockets on drones and only CIA guys knew about it. When they were with other special operation units and requested it, guys said it couldn't do that. They were told to just ask and get down, and sure enough...

I haven't a clue if those were Tomahawks in that video. I just read where they used 47 Tomahawks the first night of bombing. Seeing as the US only has 100 on order for 2015 and none in 2016, it was curious as to why they would use so many on one night's targets. I know they are supposedly being replaced by better tech in the future so maybe just emptying the inventory? The cost of war is so mind-numbing.

I once shot a $200,000+ javalin missile at a single sniper because we had ran out of ammo for my sniper rifle in a previous (and lengthy) engagement. Of course given the potential alternative, pretty much everyone would do the same, but it does highlight just how expensive it is. 10 seconds and some kid sent more than most Americans yearly income down on some guy who probably makes 500 dollars a year.

 

[ChrisW]

We have stealth drones or could have been a regular drone, or something that could have taken the video. A lot of our drones are more advanced than many think. Even back in the early days of Afghanistan, we had rockets on drones and only CIA guys knew about it. When they were with other special operation units and requested it, guys said it couldn't do that. They were told to just ask and get down, and sure enough...

That's what I'm saying, the video you're watching came from an aircraft that you don't know about yet. Might be an RQ-180

 

[bluecoconuts]

That's what I'm saying, the video you're watching came from an aircraft that you don't know about yet. Might be an RQ-180

Its funny how things can get thrown into operation before anyone finds out about them. I've flown in those stealth blackhawks and had no idea they were still classified. When the Osama raid went down and it became news I was saying "wait, those were secrets?"

Its smart, go as long as possible before word gets out.

 

[ChrisW]

Its funny how things can get thrown into operation before anyone finds out about them. I've flown in those stealth blackhawks and had no idea they were still classified. When the Osama raid went down and it became news I was saying "wait, those were secrets?"

Its smart, go as long as possible before word gets out.

Makes you wonder about all those crazy lights you see in the sky...they might actually be US aircraft that we will never find out about.

 

[RamzFanz]

Isn't the F22 supposed to be able to control multiple drones?

 

[bluecoconuts]

Heres some footage of Kurdish Special Forces taking it to ISIS on the ground. Video makes me proud, I remember training these guys (well likely not these specific guys, but we trained the Iraqi Army Special Forces, and Kurdistan Special Forces while we were in Iraq.)

They're still a bit slow and sloppy, but I always knew they wouldn't run away, and would take the fight to them. Great stuff, Im going to look up some of the guys I did train and see what they're doing. Love it.

 

[69superbowl]

Flippin' great video BC! Certainly not getting that kind of reporting on the six o'clock news. I of course didn't understand a thing that Kurdish Commode/leader was saying, but you could see the exhaustion and sadness in his face. I do think I heard him say: "BoomBoom" once. I'm not sure I like a war with background music - sort of manipulative and disrespectful of the dead, but whatever... Thanks for putting this up.