Durandal [ Anti Runway ]

[timetraveller]

Does anyone know if the French made weapon that can be carried by the F15E! Was used during the 1st Gulf war .. ?

[DeltaWhisky58]

AFAIK most of the runway-busting raids in the early part of the air war were carried out by RAF Tornado GR.1 aircraft using the Hunting JP223 bomblet dispenser which required low level operations and resulted in the high casualty rate suffered by the RAF at this stage in the war. Although the RAF had the Durandal at that time and could use it from either Jaguar or Tornado, I'm not aware of it being used.

Maybe the FAF used it from their Jaguar/Mirage F1/Mirage 2000 a/c in similar operations.

[timetraveller]

Cheers ....

[Galileo]

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/blu-107.htm
During the 1991 Gulf War the 20th Fighter Wing, flew F-111Es from Turkey, initially in low level night attacks on airfields, using the Durandal anti-runway weapon. 20th Wing flight commander Captain George Kelman said "there is nothing better at destroying a runway than a Durandal.

[nullterm]

http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=BLU-107_Durandal

Wikipedia & Google is a hell of a drug.

[Ddavid]

Is the USAF still using Durandal, or did they switch to something like the french Apache cruise missile ?

I remember FAF used Durandal against a tchad airfield during operation epervier.

[Durandal]

They have me.... :)

[nullterm]

Haven't heard anything lately about Durandals. My guess is that they stopped using them because of the dangers of having to fly low over heavily defended enemy territory. They probably now use smart weapons like JDAMs programmed to explode after penetrating the runway surface, released from much greater distances and altitudes, meaning a much safer flight for the pilot.

[DeltaWhisky58]

Yes, weapons have come an awfully long way since GW1.

Certainly the RAF leaned a hard lesson in the early stages of the GW1 air war. The use of JP233 required a low level track straight down the runway to disperse it's munitions, these low level operations resulted in a disproportionately high loss rate amongst RAF tornado GR.1 a/c.

Had they looked at it objectively, they could have done just the same job from medium level with LGBs, but we didn't utilise such weapons until later on when we started using the Buccaneers to lase for these weapons, and then also Tornado with the TIALD pod.

[signatory]

Afaik the DSW39 is also being cleared (but no decision on procurement) for the Eurofighter as this page (http://www.eurofighter-typhoon.co.uk/common/AG/dws39.html)indicates. We integrated and bought it for Gripen just because it fit a need in between expensive missile systems and the more 'dangerous' JP233 which was considered.

Release altitude 30 - 500 m
Release speed M 0.6 - M 0.9
Flight altitude 30 - 200 m, terrain following

Also at the time we bought it the Gripen wasn't cleared for LGB's and even then there's other issues to think about. I think the new star is the Small Diameter Bomb though, with four on each pylon they are gps guided and well suited for deep penetration. And the diamond back wings for extended glide/range.

[Nrjetix]

Actually only 1 RAF Tornado was lost whilst carrying out a JP233 attack, however, given the required profile its surprising there were not more. Note the jet that was hit got it after the attack had been completed also.




See below for a summary of the losses (Source RAF).



On the morning of 17 January 1991 Flt Lts J G Peters and A G Nichol took part in an attack on an Iraqi airfield with 1,000lb bombs. On departure from the target the formation encountered Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) fire and received multiple surface-to-air threat warnings. Flt Lts Peters and Nichol manoeuvred, apparently successfully, against a missile threat warning, but soon afterwards their aircraft was hit by a missile from a previously unidentified military installation. The crew continued to fly the aircraft for over three minutes before being forced to eject with fuel leaking from the right wing, and flames on the side of the fuselage. The ejections were successful, although both crew members suffered minor injuries. The crew were both captured and held as prisoners of war (POWs) until the cessation of hostilities. The wreckage of the aircraft was found and inspected by the investigating team. Fragments of metal were extracted from the aircraft wreckage and analysed. The investigating team concluded that the aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile while leaving the target area. The crew were then faced with a series of problems culminating in loss of control of the aircraft at which point they ejected successfully.


On 19 January 1991 Flt Lts D J Waddington and R J Stewart took part in a night attack against an airfield in SW Iraq with 1,000lb bombs. The formation flew into Iraq at low-level. Shortly before commencement of the loft delivery the formation came under fire from surface-to-air missiles. Flt Lt Waddington attempted to take evasive action, but a missile detonated to the front right hand side of the aircraft. The pilot became unconscious and the navigator initiated command ejection while the aircraft was at high speed. Both pilot and navigator received injuries during the ejection and parachute landing. They were captured and held as POWs until cessation of hostilities. The wreckage of their aircraft was found and briefly inspected by the investigating team; the Accident Data Recorder was recovered for analysis. The investigating team concluded that the aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile during the run-in for a loft attack.


During the early hours of 24 January 1991 Fg Off S J Burgess and Sqn Ldr R Ankerson flew on a mission to attack an airfield in SW Iraq with 1,000lb bombs from level flight at medium altitude. Shortly after having released their weapon load as planned there was a large explosion behind the aircraft and the crew thought they had been hit by a surface-to-air missile. They turned towards the Saudi border with flames spreading along the aircraft wings. The aircraft became difficult to control and the crew prepared for ejection, which they did once control was finally lost. The crew suffered very minor injuries as a result of the ejection and descent. They were both captured and held in captivity until the cessation of hostilities. The wreckage of the aircraft was found and briefly inspected by the investigating team; the Accident Data Recorder was recovered for analysis. Shrapnel fragments recovered from the aircraft wreckage were analysed and indicate conclusively that premature detonation of one or more of the 1,000lb bombs had occurred, damaging the aircraft to such an extent that the crew had no option but to eject.


On 14 February 1991 Flt Lts R J S G Clark and S M Hicks flew on a daylight medium-level mission as part of a formation of Tornadoes and laser designator Buccaneers to attack an airfield in central Iraq with Laser Guided Bombs (LGBs). Just prior to weapon delivery the crew received radar warnings but with only seconds to weapons release, continued with the attack. Only one of the two LGBs was released, with the other remaining hung-up. Shortly after, the Buccaneer crew reported a visual sighting of two SAMs fired from a site to the North of the target. Flt Lts Clark and Hicks attempted to take evasive action and to jettison external stores. Despite the crew's actions a missile exploded beside the aircraft, rupturing a canopy beside the pilot's head and smashing the majority of front cockpit instruments. Flt Lt Clark could not contact his navigator. Immediately after, there was another explosion from a second missile. Despite the extensive damage, including both wings being peppered with holes and no apparent control over the engines, the pilot still had limited control and flew the aircraft for a further two or so minutes before initiating command ejection when he found he could control the aircraft no longer. The pilot sustained a minor injury to his left leg as a result of ejection and descent. Flt Lt Hicks was found to be dead. Flt Lt Clark was subsequently captured and remained as a POW until cessation of hostilities. The crash site was located outside the area of Iraq later occupied by coalition forces and was inaccessible to the investigating team. But on the basis of Flt Lt Clark's report and interviews with other members of the formation, the investigating team were able to conclude that the aircraft was lost as a result of an enemy SAM attack which killed the navigator and severely damaged the aircraft, causing the pilot to eject.


On the evening of 17 January 1991 Wg Cdr T N C Elsdon and Flt Lt R M Collier took part in a JP233 mission against an Iraqi airfield. The formation planned to attack the target on a westerly heading before turning to the North. After a further 10 miles the formation were to turn to the East and leave the area. As they approached the Iraqi border at low level, the formation encountered AAA fire which became progressively more intense towards the target. All four aircraft delivered their weapons and turned onto the northerly heading. As the aircraft turned on to the next, easterly, track a fireball was seen by one of the crews. The leader instigated a radio check in, but received no reply from Wg Cdr Elsdon or Flt Lt Collier. It was subsequently concluded that their aircraft had been seen to hit the ground while leaving the target area. Both aircrew were killed in the crash.


On 22 January 1991 Sqn Ldrs G K S Lennox and K P Weeks led the first of two formations delivering 1,000lb bombs in a night attack on an Air Defence site in western Iraq. The weather was good with excellent visibility, and they carried out a successful attack despite heavy AAA fire. Approximately five seconds later the leader of the following formation saw a fireball erupt in the distance. Closer investigation revealed a series of fires on a hillside to the right of track where the fireball had been. As Sqn Ldrs Lennox and Weeks failed to check in after the attack, the leader realised that this fire trail was probably caused by their aircraft crashing. Both aircrew were killed in the crash.

[DeltaWhisky58]

OK, so they weren't all carrying JP233, but it was still operating at such low level which resulted in such high losses.

[Warden]

It's quite interesting that they went in without the SAM sites being knocked out.

Hasn't lossie got an AAA Gun they used for the light shows over Baghdad as a gate Gaurdian? not been up there for a while.

[DeltaWhisky58]

There are at least two AFAIK, one at the main gate by the Tornado, and one outside 15 Squadron.

[Nrjetix]

A shed load of towed ZSU-23 were brought back as souvenirs. I reckon you will find one on most RAF stations if you look hard enough. I heard of at least one making it all the way to its UK destination with a live round in one of the barrels!

[Uncle Chô]

Is the USAF still using Durandal, or did they switch to something like the french Apache cruise missile ?

I remember FAF used Durandal against a tchad airfield during operation epervier.

IIRC the Durandal was phased out of the USAF together with the One Eleven that was the only USAF aircraft to carry the Durandal.

It it also phased out of the FAF for long. In the mid-80s the FAF used Jaguars loaded with BAP-100 / 120 anti runway bombs in Chad.

[gadzook]

The Israeli's used Durandals on the Beirut Airport runways in July. There should be lots of videos and pics on the internet of the Durandals used on the runways.

You can tell they are Durandals by the cloud of smoke and debris ejected from the bomb impact.

[timetraveller]

I've always wonder why the American's never took on the runways as well .. in a joint attack with F15e/F4e taken out the Sam /AA sites

[Durandal]

I've always wonder why the American's never took on the runways as well .. in a joint attack with F15e/F4e taken out the Sam /AA sites

Because F-111Es were used. The U.S. dropped a fair number of them during the first Gulf War.

[jackehammond]

IIRC the Durandal was phased out of the USAF together with the One Eleven that was the only USAF aircraft to carry the Durandal.

It it also phased out of the FAF for long. In the mid-80s the FAF used Jaguars loaded with BAP-100 / 120 anti runway bombs in Chad.


Dear Members,

The French AF never adopted the DURANDAL. The size of the DURANDAL limited the number that their aircraft type could carry. They instead adopted the BAP-100. But the DURANDAL was an export success, and not only to the USAF. Finally, the Israelis did not use the DURANDAL on the Beirut airport. They dive bombed it with semi-armor piercing 500kg bombs.

Jack E. Hammond

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