Mk-80 series

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Mark 82 "Snakeye" with braking surfaces and Mk-81-LDGP free-fall bomb (below). Two yellow rings stand for the explosive charge Amatol , one for TNT .

The Mk-80 series is the name of a series of aerial bombs used by numerous NATO countries. Their effect is based on pressure and splintering . All variants of this series have an aerodynamically optimized shape, as they are carried on fast-flying combat aircraft. They can be thrown unbraked from all heights or with a braking device from low flight.

construction

The bombs consist of the bomb body with the explosive, one or more detonators and the rear unit with stabilizing wings or the braking device.

Mk 80 series bombs are turned into bombs from the JDAM series by adding control surfaces and sensor units , for example with GPS receivers and an inertial navigation system - or with laser search heads from the Paveway series.

variants

USAF Mk-82 bombs being prepared

The basis for the western bomb covers are based on the Mk.80 family designed by Douglas in 1946. This is also known as low-drag, general-purpose (LDGP) or aerodynamic multi-purpose bomb.

US variants

The United States Navy is using a different explosive (PXBN-109) and gray insulating paint to make a cook-off of the bombs on board their aircraft carriers less likely - the bombs are supposed to burn out. Otherwise the bomb bodies, which are provided with the BLU prefix, are identical to the normal version. Visually, they are distinguished by three yellow ring-shaped markings on the bow, while those of the Air Force only have one.

BLU-111 of the NAVY are being prepared

The MK series has the following variants:

  • Mark 81 LDGP: mass 118 kg (260 lb), length 1.88 m, diameter 22.8 cm
  • Mark 82 LDGP: mass 540 lb (241 kg), 2.21 m long, 27.3 cm in diameter
  • BLU-111A / B LDGP: weight 245 kg, length 2.21 m, diameter 27.3 cm
  • BLU-126: a BLU-111 bomb body with less explosives to reduce collateral damage
  • BLU-129: a BLU-111 bomb body with less explosives and a carbon fiberglass shell to minimize splinters in urban areas to reduce collateral damage
  • Mark 83 LDGP: mass 447 kg (1,000 lb), length 3 m, diameter 35.7 cm
  • BLU-110: mass 447 kg (1,040 lb), length 3 m, diameter 35.7 cm
  • Mark 84 LDGP: mass 909 kg (2,000 lb), length 3.27 m, diameter 45.7 cm
  • BLU-117: mass 925 kg (2,020 lb), length 3.27 m, diameter 45.7 cm

French variants

The Société des Ateliers Mécaniques de Pont-sur-Sambre (SAMP) produced the Mk.80 series bombs for the French Air Force until the company went bankrupt in October 2011.

  • SAMP (125 kg free-fall bomb; analogous to Mk.81)
  • SAMP BL EU2 (250 kg free-fall bomb with braking parachute)
  • SAMP EU2 (250 kg free-fall bomb; analogous to Mk.82)
  • SAMP 25FE (250 kg free-fall bomb; analogous to Mk.82)
  • SAMP T200 (400 kg free-fall bomb; analogous to Mk.83)
  • SAMP BL4 (1000 kg free-fall bomb; analogous to Mk.84)

Italian variants

  • SEI BA-102 (227 kg free fall bomb)
  • SEI BA-103 (454 kg free fall bomb)
  • SEI BA-104 (908 kg free fall bomb)

Spanish variants

  • Expal BR 50 (50 kg free fall bomb)
  • Expal BR 125 (125 kg free fall bomb)
  • Expal BR 250 (551-lb / 250-kg free fall bomb)
  • Expal BRP 250 (250 kg delayed free fall bomb)
  • Expal BRP.S 250 (delayed 250 kg free fall bomb for dropping at low altitude)
  • Expal BRF 250 (250 kg fragmentation bomb)
  • Expal BRFP 250 (250 kg delayed fragmentation bomb)
  • Expal BRFP.S 250 (delayed 250 kg fragment bomb for dropping at low altitude)
  • Expal BRFA 375 (375 kg free fall bomb with hardened bow)
  • Expal BR 500 (500 kg free fall bomb)
  • Expal BR 1000 (500 kg free fall bomb)

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Mk 82 FAS.org; viewed on January 7, 2009 ( Memento of December 8, 2013 in the Internet Archive )