Quote:
Originally Posted by unkated
Mounting and dropping bombs from a transport is not a big problem.
Doing so with accuracy is. Such drops are as much luck as anything else. Most transports lack targeting systems.
If your target is a town, you can probably hit something in the town. If your target is a particular building or a bridge or a section or road... small chances exist, but no more than that.
You can improve accuracy by flying lower, closer to the target - which makes you an easier target for any AA guns; fly real low, and AA missiles have a hard time getting a lock on you (but small arms can).
You can add the German Ju52 to your list; the original version in 1936 had bombbay doors and was used a bomber in Spain briefly - but the losses in aircraft and pilots soon became too expensive, and bombbay doors were dropped from the design.
Uncle Ted
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Our recent MOAB strike in Afghanistan is an example of a smart weapon being dropped from a transport aircraft, so accuracy is possible in some circumstances.
The US is also looking at arming the AC-130 and MC-130 with air-to-ground missiles and possibly air-to-air missiles -- in the latter case, fitting them with a version of the F/A-18C's radar has been mentioned.
The Russians have dropped their own version of the MOAB from transport aircraft.
The Chinese have been arming transport aircraft with air-to-ground missiles, antishipping missiles, and mine-laying cluster bombs for years. They are reputedly experimenting with dropping a small ICBM or IRBM out the back of their largest transports, where they would parachute down until the aircraft is clear of the missile's motor, then the missile's motor ignites.