Image source: Photo: "Military Informant", MojNews
The command of the US Air Force has decided to use its B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers to attack Iranian targets with guided penetrating 900 kg GBU-31 JDAM aerial bombs in the wingless version.
This is reported by the "Military Informant". It is noted that previously such 256-ton "Stratospheric Fortresses" used unobtrusive AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles of various modifications, capable of flying three hundred and seventy or almost a thousand kilometers, that is, without entering the area of operation of the air defense of the Islamic Republic.
Now, these heavy bombers with an effective scattering area of 100-125 square meters, which are a highly visible target for radars, are going to use weapons that can hit only thirty kilometers.
However, they will certainly work "in the Vietnamese way", from altitudes of more than ten kilometers, which makes them a rather difficult target. They are "too tough" for such low-altitude complexes as "358/359" and mobile AD-08 Majid.
Image source: Photo: "Military Informant", MojNews
However, the mobile systems of the 3rd Khordad (Sevom Khordad), which reach heights of 30 kilometers, are quite capable of these goals, they have passive optoelectronic systems that do not need radar operation. They may well act from ambushes, and everything will depend on the professionalism of the Iranian air defense fighters and basic luck.
So, during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the Iraqi forces managed to damage 6 B-52s with anti-aircraft fire, and one, according to some reports, could not reach the base on Diego Garcia Island due to the damage and fell into the Indian Ocean. Of the 6-man crew, three were unable to eject successfully and died. And now Iran has more modern air defense systems than those used by Saddam Hussein's soldiers.
Alexey Brusilov
