Unguided Free Fall Munition Deliveries
MEDIUM LEVEL DELIVERIES
High Altitude Dive Bomb (HADB)
The HADB is almost identical to the Dive Bomb outlined in the previous chapter; the only real difference between the two delivery methods is the altitudes at which they are performed. Like the DB the HADB is performed with a planned dive angle of between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, but with a minimum recovery altitude of at least 4,500 ft. AGL.
Training hit criteria is 125 ft. (38 meters) for a computed delivery and 250 ft. (76 meters) for a manual delivery.
The HADB, like the DB, is a very accurate method of delivering dumb munitions on target but due to the higher altitude at which it is performed it reduces the risk to the delivery aircraft from SHORAD systems such as AAA or MANPADS. It should be noted that 4,500 ft. AGL is the minimum recovery altitude for the HADB delivery and pilots/flight leads can set a higher minimum recovery altitude if desired/appropriate. When performing a HADB delivery it is vital that the pilot pays attention to the altitude and airspeed in the dive, as well as the amount of time spent tracking the target. It is all too easy to become fixated on the target, ignore the HUD RTSE cues and then find yourself below the minimum recovery altitude in the range of the SHORAD systems you were hoping to avoid, or even colliding with the terrain. The tracking phase of HADB deliveries should be less than 6 seconds; excessive time spent in the dive trying to force the pipper on the target from a poorly executed dive/turn is without doubt the biggest mistake pilots make.
High Altitude Release Bomb (HARB)
HARB is a diving delivery with a planned dive angle of 30 degrees or greater, just like DB and HADB, where it differs is the minimum recovery altitude (and therefore the release altitude). The minimum recovery altitude for a HARB delivery is 10,000 ft. AGL, twice the height of the HADB.
Training hit criteria is 255 ft. (78 meters) for a computed delivery and 510 ft. (136 meters) for a manual delivery.
The HARB is not a delivery method which will be employed by the A-10C very often as it is primarily used by fighter aircraft attacking large, heavily defended targets. Due to the high release altitude, and therefore large slant range, accuracy is limited (despite still being a CCIP delivery) which means the HARB is of limited value when attacking small, mobile targets such as vehicles and troops. It is worth noting however, that HARB may be useful in cases where it is important to get weapons on target but the threat situation makes a low level attack inappropriate. When planning such a delivery the reduced accuracy should be considered and thought given to using multiple aircraft against a single DMPI to ensure sufficient weapons impact the target in order to achieve the desired effect.