5.16 Low Angle Strafe (LAS).

5.16    Low Angle Strafe (LAS).

LAS is defined as any strafe pass planned with less than 15° of dive and is normally planned for 10°. The minimum recovery altitude is 75 feet AGL. The minimum cease fire slant range is 2,000 feet.

5.16.1    Pattern.

LAS can be flown out of the conventional or the pop pattern. During the downwind checks, ensure that the correct target steer point is selected. A technique is to reduce the altitude for the RALT warning or turn it off (expect to be less than 300 foot AGL prior to cease fire slant range).

5.16.2    Base Position.

Because the AOP for strafe is the target and not a point beyond the target, and the track time is longer than for a typical bombing pass, the base position will be wider than for a bombing pass of similar dive angle. The canopy code for an LAS base position from the conventional pattern will look slightly wider than a 10° bombing pass. Use a canopy code of two fist widths above the canopy rail.

5.16.3    Roll In.

The roll in should be planned so as to roll out on the attack heading, pointed directly at the target. This roll in will be very similar to the conventional 10 roll in. Use MIL power and call “C/S, IN DRY” once starting the turn from base. Switch to the strafe mode once starting the roll in. Remember, if you are switching from CCRP to strafe mode, it will require two clicks of the weapon-mode switch. Use the target approaching the gun cross as a reference for when to roll out.

5.16.4    Final.

The CCIP gunsight will initially fall below the gun cross and will be horizontally positioned between the FPM and gun cross (if there are no crosswinds, the gun cross, FPM, and gunsight will all be lined up vertically). Once tracking towards the target and slant range decreases, the gunsight will rise closer to the gun cross. Track time will be longer than on a typical bombing pass, approximately 6-9 minutes.

5.16.4.1    Initial Aiming References.

Initially, pull the gun cross towards the target and set the bottom of the gun cross on the target. If there are crosswinds on final, put the target laterally halfway between the gun cross and FPM. Hold this picture (bottom
 
of the gun cross on the target’s 3/9, with the target between the gun cross and FPM) and start to bring airspeed and slant range into the cross-check (Figure 5.10).

5.16.4.2    Airspeed.

Like the 10 conventional bomb final, reduce power from MIL (stand up the throttles) as airspeed accelerates through 390 knots.

5.16.4.3    Slant Range.

The T-38C “A-10” gunsight gives slant range in nautical miles immediately below the gun cross. The T-38C gunsight provides slant range in hundreds of feet in the lower right hand corner of the HUD—a more difficult cross- check. With either pipper, as slant range decreases towards open fire range, refine the firing solution, easing the pipper to the target. Note: Once inside 4,000 feet, the “in- range cue,” or “hat,” is displayed on top of the T-38C pipper. This range may be inside of planned open fire range for LAS, so it may be of little use.

5.16.5    Open Fire/Cease Fire.

Use the slant range indicated below the CCIP gunsight to determine when to open fire. Different airframes open fire at different ranges. F-16s and F- 15Es need to open fire with their 20mm cannon inside of 6,500 feet slant range in order to achieve the minimum required bullet impact velocity for weapons effects. The A-10 with its 30mm cannon can effectively open fire well outside of this range, target dependent.
All platforms normally fire a 2-second burst; attempt to “track – shoot – track”; there should be enough time to get a good 2-second burst before starting the climbing SEM. Thinking “track – shoot – track” will help ensure that the trigger is released prior to the SEM. In any case, cease fire and start the SEM once arriving at the cease fire slant range if directly over the foul line or the break “X” starts to flash. The only requirement is to avoid a lazy pulloff; however, because of close proximity to the ground, it is generally briefed to treat the recovery similarly to a climbing SEM.

5.16.6    Alternate Panels.

 Normally on a controlled range, there will be at least two active panels. A common technique is to strafe alternate panels (that is, if number one chooses panel one, then number two strafes panel two; number three strafes panel one, etc.). This allows time for the dust to clear on that panel from a previous pass. If the flight is using more than one panel, add “PANEL ONE” (or two as required) to your “in” call.