Mag.. Yep thats a Missile its actually on the underwing of the Jet... it's a AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a supersonic, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft. It has a high-explosive warhead and an active infrared guidance system. The Sidewinder was developed by the US Navy for fleet air defense and was adapted by the U.S. Air Force for fighter aircraft use. Early versions of the missile were extensively used in the Southeast Asian conflict. In September 1958 Chinese Nationalist F-86s fired the first Sidewinder air-to-air missiles to down 11 communist Chinese MiG-17s over the Formosa Straits. Until that time, aircraft defensive means where primarily limited to pilots and tail gunners firing small caliber ammunition in dog-fight situations.
But today, if you talk to a few of the guys on this board they'll tell you the Aim-9 is used to down Civilian Aircraft and such...
The One you don't see that's on the Wingtip, is a AIM-120 AMRAAM Slammer , The AMRAAM weighs 340 pounds and uses an advanced solid-fuel rocket motor to achieve a speed of Mach 4 and a range in excess of 30 miles. In long-range engagements AMRAAM heads for the target using inertial guidance and receives updated target information via data link from the launch aircraft. It transitions to a self-guiding terminal mode when the target is within range of its own monopulse radar set. The AIM-120 also has a "home-on-jam" guidance mode to counter electronic jamming. With its sophisticated avionics, high closing speed, and excellent end-game maneuverability, chances of escape from AMRAAM are minimal. Upon intercept an active-radar proximity fuze detonates the 40-pound high-explosive warhead to destroy the target. At closer ranges AMRAAM guides itself all the way using its own radar, freeing the launch aircraft to engage other targets.
Kind of like the Fire and Forget... that way you can't see what the Airline Pilot was thinking before your Missile Interups his Day... And Believe it or not with this Advancment in Technology... these Actually Save Live's just like the Bomb on the wing there..
It's a GBU-12, The Guided Bomb Unit-12 (GBU-12) utilizes a 500-pound general purpose warhead. The operator illuminates a target with a laser designator and then the munition guides to a spot of laser energy reflected from the target.
Believe it or not this Weapon also Saved allot of Lives... used in CAS Missions the guy on the Ground Designated the Target with his Laser and the computer systems on the Jet picked up the Quardence from the ground troop's designator and honed in on the Enemy's Location... thus removing the Enemy and saving many lives by reducing a ground battle... Less Casualties that way... these Bombs can hit between 3 to 4 feet from there Designated Target... the Newer Bombs are GPS Guided and can hit within 3 to 4 inches of there Targets thus Less Civilian Casualties...
Just thought I would Share that information with you also... because it seems the US is being Portraid as a bad guy here... through the Years there has been Millions spent... making sure there are less Casualties and the Targets are Taken Out...
Thanks for asking Mag... Sorry for such a long discription LoL
Enjoy
Hog
