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The current state of the art as it relates to taking out runways is ordnance like the Matra Durandal which was developed by the French. The US used them in the Gulf dropping them from F-111s (can also be dropped by F-15E, two seat version of F-15 with weapons officer in the rear cockpit). They are intended to be dropped from a low altitude with the aircraft in the 600 knot range. This makes them fairly vulnerable.

They are a US Air Force munition and are not typically carrier deliverable.

This type of munition does several things — first stage (200 lbs of explosive) is parachute slowed (to face straight down) and then rocket accelerated to penetrate and then a secondary charge (35 lbs of explosive) both blows a crater and displaces the runway itself.

These are fairly light munitions at less than 300 lbs of explosive, but they have the benefit of “lifting” power and are “slow” explosives which lift rather than cut. The secondary stage will detonate while below the runway.

As used, one would anticipate 10-20 bombs per runway.

Craters are easy to fix by simply refilling the crater while a displaced runway requires the damaged runway to be jack hammered out and then rebuilt — subbase compacted, base installed, reinforcing steel installed, concrete placed.

These type of bombs are considered if they can put a runway out of commission for 24 hours and thus they are considered as tactical weapons.

The critical problem is that a runway bomb has to be dropped from an airplane and the Russian SAMs which the Syrians have recently acquired are, arguably, the best in the world. These new weapons are at every Syrian airfield.

If an American plane is cruising over a runway in a straight line at a low enough altitude to use one of these munitions, it is a sitting duck for these modern Russian systems.

An unmanned Tomahawk cruise missile can be programmed to arrive within inches and will arrive with 1,000 pounds of explosives. These missiles were targeted at fueling points amongst other things. They are not suitable for runway busting.

I would bet it was the comparative danger for the pilots v the unmanned Tomahawks which carried the day. That would be my decision.

I would bet the US if currently figuring out how to deliver some busted runways as Syria only has six airfields.

If there is a next time, there will have to be a first wave of jets taking out the SAMs and still there may be casualties amongst the runway destruction pilots. That is a different type of fight and some of those SAM operators will definitely be Russians.

Pres Trump warned the Russians an hour before TOT (time on target).

BRC
http://www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com

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Thought provoking. One of the best comments I have ever read.

BRC
http://www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com

“ruthless, heartless butcher”

“bastard”

“manifestation of evil on earth”

You omitted despicable, disgusting, degenerate, sadistic, Medieval horror show.

I fully agree with all of that.

So, Assad fits right in with the 1000+ year old history of Mideast desert Islam.

But, wait, there’s more: Baghdadi is even worse.

If the enemies of Assad had their way, then how many, how many millions, of Assad’s supporters — definitely including babies — might be killed, oops, butchered, turned into still warm and bleeding jackal, vulture, and insect food?

Killing civilians? Killing babies? In lots of wars, lots of civilians and babies have been killed.

Welcome to the history, reality, and culture of Mideast desert Islam, the land of the 1000+ year old “peaceful religion”:

Peace be upon you.

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

By the noon-day brightness,

And by the night when it darkeneth!

Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee, neither hath he been displeased.

And surely the Future shall be better for thee than the Past,

And in the end shall thy Lord be bounteous to thee and thou be satisfied.

Gee, it sounds peaceful?

In 2014, the US paid for the destruction of all Syrian chemical weapons (overseen by the Russians — huh?).

Apparently, the Syrians did NOT destroy ALL their chemical weapons.

http://themusingsofthebigredcar.com/sarin-chemical-warfare/

What will the world do now? Follow American leadership?

BRC
http://www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com