Air-to-surface IRIS-T

[Slater]

Seems like an effective choice for small targets of opportunity:

 

http://www.janes.com/article/66304/diehl-develops-air-to-surface-capability-for-iris-t-aam

[Jure Miljevic]

Sounds like mythical use of infra-red guided AAM against Egyptian fighters, standing QRA at the end of runways during 1967 war. Updated software insertion, mentioned in the article, probably consists of a few computer lines, which keep missile well above target altitude until moments before impact. Cheers

Jure

[Slater]

The concept isn't exactly new. Back during the Vietnam War, some AIM-9B's were reportedly converted to the AGM-87 Focus configuration for night anti-vehicle operations.

[Jure Miljevic]

I never heard about that one. I remember reading somewhere that F-102 Delta Daggers used Falcon missiles against ground targets during Vietnam war but I do not recall reading about modifications being required. According to one source Israeli Mirage III fighters used Shafrir I missiles against Egyptian MiGs sitting on the ground during initial strikes of the Six days war, a highly doubtful claim I mentioned in my previous post. During the service life of this missile, vast majority of Shafrirs I failed to guide, even when launched against enemy aircraft in the air under ideal conditions. So, there was hardly any point using them against ground targets.

While additional capabilities of IRIS missiles are certainly welcome, I can hardly imagine circumstances which would warrant the use of such an expensive missile against a truck or a motor launch. Especially as most of air forces have no more than two or three dozens of IRIS missiles in their inventories these days and grand total of some of them does not even reach a two digits number. Cheers

Jure

[Dave Fleming]

RAF Jaguars in the Gulf War (91) on a couple of occasions accidentally launched AIM9s against ground targets (Trucks!).

 

Mention also of the AGM-122, although that used a new seeker (and a nifty nickname!)

Edited December 30, 2016 by Dave Fleming

[Slater]

Well, even with the virtually unlimited budgets of the USAF during Vietnam, Sidewinders against trucks was never going to be cost effective. A 105mm round from an AC-130 filled the bill rather well.