Strike Warfare

MIDN 3/C Draper and MIDN 4/C Hollis

Objectives• Mission• Purpose• Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)• Overview of Strike Options• Airborne Weapons• Types of Warheads

Mission• Strike Warfare is the use of tactical aircraft and/or

cruise missiles against land targets in an offensive power projection role.

Purpose of Strike Warfare

• Strike warfare gives the US Navy an offensive power projection capability that can be used either by itself or in combination with expeditionary forces.

Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)

• The objective of this type of operation is to neutralize enemy anti-aircraft abilities to allow general air superiority over a target area

Basic Overview of Strike Options

1. Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) – NSFS is conducted in association with expeditionary warfare and comprises all methods of attacking shore targets with surface ship weapons systems.

2. Tactical Aircraft (TACAIR) – Aircraft that can be fitted to serve in an attack role. The F/A-18 C/D and E/F are all capable of conducting any type of strike mission, and can carry most munitions listed below.

Basic Overview of Strike Options

3. Cruise Missiles – A cruise missile is an unmanned, self-propelled, guided weapon delivery vehicle that sustains flight through aerodynamic lift over most of its flight path.

Type Advantages Disadvantages

Tactical Aircraft

• Greater payload• Flexibility• Able to select

target• Used for Close Air

Support (CAS)• Reusable

• Shorter range

Cruise Missiles • High Accuracy• Multiple

Launching platforms

• Small payload• No target

selection capability

Airborne Weapons• High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) –

HARMs use a passive seeker that homes on the emitted electromagnetic radiation of enemy radar

• Standoff Land Attack Missile, Extended Range (SLAM-ER) – This weapon was developed from the Harpoon anti-shipping missile and is intended for use on land targets.

• Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) – JSOW is a glide weapon that uses GPS satellite information for guidance. Effective against both land and sea targets in any daylight and weather conditions.

• Laser Guided Bombs (LGB) – LGB’S have a laser seeker that guides the bomb onto its target.

• Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) – JDAM is a kit that is installed in bombs in the existing inventory. It uses a GPS/INS guidance system. It also has the ability to attack point targets in bath weather.

Types of Warhead

• General Purpose Bombs – GP bombs are the most basic, inexpensive type of ordnance used in strike warfare.

• Retarded General Purpose Bombs – High drag general purpose bombs are similar to the “Slick” iron bombs with one extra feature. Attached to the bomb is a high-drag tail assembly that decreases the speed of the bomb when it is dropped which allows the dropping aircraft to escape the blast are when flying at a low altitude.

• Cluster Bombs – Bombs that are free-fall bombs that deploy multiple “bomblets” on a target area. When the bomb is dropped on a target, it breaks open and releases many smaller bomblets.

• Fuel Air Explosive Bombs – When these bombs are dropped they release gases into the atmosphere, which creates a highly explosive mixture. A fuse ignites the gases causing the contaminated air to burn.

• Penetrator Bombs – Bombs are designed for hardened or subterranean targets.

• Tomahawk Land-Attack Missile (TLAM) – Long range cruise missile that the navy developed for both surface and submarine launch against land targets. It can be launched from the Mk-41 VLS launcher, torpedo tubes, or specially designed vertical launch tubes.

Questions?