Ground-directed bombing (GDB) during the Cold War

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yahya

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I have two questions related to the Ground-directed bombing (GDB) systems:

(1) Were the radar-based Ground-directed bombing (GDB) systems used during the Cold War in the European Theater? I mean something like the AN/MSQ-77 or similar? If yes, which aircraft were fitted with equipment to receive the signals originating from these systems?

(2) The F-100D Super Sabres were fitted with the MA-3 fire control system, which could be characterized with a rather poor performance. However, that system was supplemented by the APW-11A command radar and the APA-90 command indicator, which displayed the instructions to the pilot. Similar system was also used on the B-57B and B-57C. What kind of equipment was used on the ground to send command signals to the APW-11A-equipped aircraft?
 
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Thank you. Do you possess any further details what kind of data was sent through these systems to the APW-11A and APA-90?
 
A bit more detail. MSQ-1 was modified SCR 584 with plotting table and bombing box. VHF control link to aircraft or missile. Apparently three-pulse train to APW-11, position modulated. Second pulse acts as identifier, third pulse ("modulated at a combination of audio frequencies") provides command - energises any one of 14 control circuits or any pair of first six circuits. When connected to APA-90, illuminates a command caption - or could be used for remote bomb reelease
 
Thank you for the reply. Wiki says that the SCR-584 operated on 3 GHz with peak power of 250kW, with range of ca. 40 mi; 64 km. What could be the MSQ-1 effective range considering the modifications that you mentioned and the earth curvature? Ca. 100 miles? Or slightly more?

This source: https://radar.tpub.com/TM-11-487C-1/TM-11-487C-10445.htm talks about the Target From Aircraft Distance of 2000 to 352,000 yd only. That would be 200 miles max.

Which range was more real?
 
yahya said:
Thank you for the reply. Wiki says that the SCR-584 operated on 3 GHz with peak power of 250kW, with range of ca. 40 mi; 64 km. What could be the MSQ-1 effective range considering the modifications that you mentioned and the earth curvature? Ca. 100 miles? Or slightly more?

This source: https://radar.tpub.com/TM-11-487C-1/TM-11-487C-10445.htm talks about the Target From Aircraft Distance of 2000 to 352,000 yd only. That would be 200 miles max.

Which range was more real?
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The 352,000 yd/174NM was limitation of plotting equipment. Radar (no details of power) could follow out to the 'quasi-optical' horizon when operating at peak performance, which it didn't always do, and computer would still calculate: trial showed it could track target at 230NM at 45,000 ft, although the bombing error was large.
 
Thank you for the information. Assuming that the MSQ-1 radars were deployed in West Germany and Denmark during the Cold War, that would give the coverage at least of the GDR, western Czechoslovakia and western Poland, unless more RF power was employed to guide the bombers and MGM-1 Matador missiles even further. I assume that the MSQ-1 operated in the line-of-sight only, which would mean that the further the distance, the higher flight altitude was necessary to unobtrusively pick up the command signals. Wiki says the MGM-1 Matador's guidance radar system called MARC had the range of ca. 250 miles, but was also prone to jamming.
 

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