GERMAN EUROFIGHTER GAINS AIR-TO-GROUND CAPABILITY

The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Tactical Air Force Wing 31 “Boelcke” (TaktLwG 31) becames the first Squadron to be ready to employ a multi-role Eurofighter.

German Eurofighter multirole air-to-ground
German (Luftwaffe) Eurofighter gains air-to-ground capability

On December 18, 2017, the Luftwaffe Eurofighter belonging to Taktische Luftwaffengeschwader (Tactical Air Force Squadron, TaktLwG) 31 "Boelcke" of Nörvenich AFB officially obtained the ability to deliver the GBU-48 laser and GPS guided bombs. It means being able to cover the air-to-ground role in addition to the main air-to-air task.

Next year the Luftwaffe will be able to use the Eurofighter as a mulri-role combat aircraft. The Eurofighter armed with the GBU-48 precision bomb will be ready to serve as a bomber since January 2018 and be included in the NATO Rapid Response Force.

TaktLwG 31 is the first of four Eurofighter Squadrons of the Luftwaffe to become multi-role. The Squadron tested the bomb at the Vidsel polygon in Sweden last September. This test campaign with the precision weapon showed that the Eurofighter is perfectly capable of acquiring the air-to-ground capability. The German Eurofingers have conducted an intensive test campaign to be sure of the perfect integration between weapon and aircraft.

The pilots first had to test the Eurofighter's flight behavior with heavy loads before continuing with the launch of the bomb on single and multiple targets. The Eurofighter can be armed with four GBU-48s, which means an additional takeoff and flight weight of about two tons.


The GBU-48 is a laser-GPS-controlled precision bomb with a range of up to 25 kilometers and able to hit a target with a deviation of less than ten meters. It is very precise and can be used in almost all visibility and weather conditions.

Written by Matteo Sanzani
Source, Images: Luftwaffe


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