[Ribbon-Grey]

JP233 Submunition Delivery System



ORIGIN: (Real World)
United Kingdom

GAMES FEATURED IN:
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
Ace Combat 05: The Unsung War
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
Ace Combat 06: Fires of Liberation

COMPATIBLE AIRCRAFT
F-16XL, Tornado GR.1/IDS, Tornado GR.4

OVERVIEW:
The JP233 was sub munition delivery system used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornadoes for attacking enemy runways. The idea of the system was the Tornado would fly over the target runway, at which point the system would dispense SG-357 cratering bomb lets (30 of which were in the JP233) to damage the runway, and HB-876 anti-personnel mines (there were 215 HB-876s in the JP233) to prevent rapid repair of the runway.

During the Gulf War, British and Saudi Arabian Tornadoes used the JP233, and were successful at disabling Iraqi runways using the weapon. However, as the aircraft was required to fly at low altitude along the runway, was brightly illuminated by the munitions if using them at night, and would under go violent trim changes when JP233 pod was jettisoned, use of the weapon was felt to expose the aircrew to unnecessary risk. It should be noted that these risks were not as nearly high as many people (incorrectly) believe: over 100 JP233s were used, but only one JP233 mission was shot down, and this was several minutes after the JP233 attack had been completed.

After the Gulf War, the JP233 was withdrawn from service as it was felt that stand-off munitions could achieve the same goals with much lower risk to aircrew. Additionally, the HB-876 mines contained within the JP233 could no longer be used once Britain signed the Ottawa Treaty which bans the use of anti-personnel mines.



Source:
http://www.operationgranby.com/p1_equipment_jp233.php

*Original Article by MenAce (Ribbon-Vermilion)*