Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

[Forest Green]

Super Hornets Are Now Carrying Stormbreaker Glide Bombs On Combat Missions

Imagery shows Navy F/A-18E/Fs equipped with GBU-53/B Stormbreakers being launched on missions against Houthi militants in Yemen. Imagery shows Navy F/A-18E/Fs equipped with GBU-53/B Stormbreakers being launched on missions against Houthi militants in Yemen.

www.twz.com

 

[NMaude]

Super Hornets Are Now Carrying Stormbreaker Glide Bombs On Combat Missions

Imagery shows Navy F/A-18E/Fs equipped with GBU-53/B Stormbreakers being launched on missions against Houthi militants in Yemen. Imagery shows Navy F/A-18E/Fs equipped with GBU-53/B Stormbreakers being launched on missions against Houthi militants in Yemen.

www.twz.com

Awesome! Now I wonder can SDBs being carried and launched supersonically?

 

[Ozair]

Awesome! Now I wonder can SDBs being carried and launched supersonically?

Yes that is almost a given. SDB one comments made regarding the F-22.

The SDB envelope will be the highest and fastest of currently fielded Air Force weapons
...
The Combined Test Force's future flight test plans include expanding the F-22's delivery envelope to the full capability of the aircraft, Mr. Kuhlemeier said.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/125588/f-22-performs-first-drop-of-small-diameter-bomb/

 

[Scott Kenny]

Wonder what range you could get with a supersonic launch?

 

[FlyGuy369]

Has anyone got any more info on the "have glass" Block III hornet? I seen a photo of it a few days ago and I can't find it again.

 

[NMaude]

Wonder what range you could get with a supersonic launch?

Both the SDB-II and II have a maximum range of 69 miles when air-launched (No doubt at high subsonic speeds) so if air-launched supersonically (Anything faster than M1.2) I suppose ~140-150 miles.

Edit: While both PGMs are designed to be carried supersonically their airframes might need to be re-stressed to be launched at and flown at supersonic speeds.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Both the SDB-II and II have a maximum range of 69 miles when air-launched (No doubt at high subsonic speeds) so if air-launched supersonically (Anything faster than M1.2) I suppose ~140-150 miles.

Edit: While both PGMs are designed to be carried supersonically their airframes might need to be re-stressed to be launched at and flown at supersonic speeds.

Plus there's the typical destabilization as a supersonic object slows down, so compensating for that will likely reduce range somewhat.

 

[NMaude]

Plus there's the typical destabilization as a supersonic object slows down

I'm sure that the tail-fins after they're deployed (Probably something like 100ms after launch) would actively stabilise the SDB to stop it tumbling.

Edit: I strongly suspect that once the SDB's wings are deployed it will rapidly decelerate to high subsonic speeds.

 

[Scott Kenny]

I'm sure that the tail-fins after they're deployed (Probably something like 100ms after launch) would actively stabilise the SDB to stop it tumbling.

Edit: I strongly suspect that once the SDB's wings are deployed it will rapidly decelerate to high subsonic speeds.

You're probably right about that.

It's just that the tail fins will be really moving around as the SDB goes transonic, which eats up speed/energy and therefore range.

 

[mkellytx]

Both the SDB-II and II have a maximum range of 69 miles when air-launched (No doubt at high subsonic speeds) so if air-launched supersonically (Anything faster than M1.2) I suppose ~140-150 miles.

Edit: While both PGMs are designed to be carried supersonically their airframes might need to be re-stressed to be launched at and flown at supersonic speeds.

The original SDB was capable of supersonic launch, so SDB-II almost certainly is as well. IIRC the tail deploys for control and the wings stay stowed until subsonic. FWIW one of my friends at ED was in the 411th when they were doing the safety package for SDB, they were having kittens because its footprint was larger than any range they typically used.