What load is this GR4 carrying?

[Lopex]

45150432.jpg (image)

I'm guessing the litening pod, drop tanks, ECM dispenser and some Paveway IV?

Does anyone know if the brimstone will be used in Afghanistan by the GR4?

 

[Ozzy Blizzard]

2x Mark 82 Paveway IV PGB's (or Paveway II's) and a Litening AT targeting pod i think.

 

[Aussie Digger]

2x Mark 82 Paveway IV PGB's (or Paveway II's) and a Litening AT targeting pod i think.

Yep, 2x Paveway IV 500lbs bombs,

A Litening III targeting pod,

2x drop tanks

2x Terma "Advanced Infra-Red Countermeasures" pods (AIRCM) and what looks like an active radar jammer on the inboard pylon above the drop tank.

I haven't seen that in-board EW pod before. Any ideas?

 

[Duffy]

2x Mark 82 Paveway IV PGB's (or Paveway II's) and a Litening AT targeting pod i think.

I think OB is right also looks like it has BOZ-107 and dummy It maybe something else but it doesn't look like the Sky-shadow ECM.

 

[Scott]

LITENING Pod Photo

Here's a close up of a LITENING pod strapped to a Harrier that I took at Miramar last year.

 

[Lopex]

Thanks for the info. It seems a bit odd to be carrying only 2 LGBs and the 23mm cannon as the only offensive weapons. It is not on a recce mission as it has no RAPTOR pod. When the Harrier GR9s were doing the same job they carried a larger amount of munitions and must have a much smaller load capacity than the much bigger GR4s. I have few questions

The GR4 must have a larger capacity than this?

The GR4s work in pairs normally would one carry the laser designators and the other a larger amount of LGBs? Is this common in modern CAS missions?

Has the Brimstone missile been used in Afghanistan yet?

Are the GR4s doing a good job after replacing the GR9s?

Thanks.

 

[Aussie Digger]

Thanks for the info. It seems a bit odd to be carrying only 2 LGBs and the 23mm cannon as the only offensive weapons. It is not on a recce mission as it has no RAPTOR pod. When the Harrier GR9s were doing the same job they carried a larger amount of munitions and must have a much smaller load capacity than the much bigger GR4s. I have few questions

The GR4 must have a larger capacity than this?

The GR4s work in pairs normally would one carry the laser designators and the other a larger amount of LGBs? Is this common in modern CAS missions?

Has the Brimstone missile been used in Afghanistan yet?

Are the GR4s doing a good job after replacing the GR9s?

Thanks.

That GR4 clearly has hardpoints available for additional munitions if necessary. Loadouts are based
on mission requirements, not maximum possible loads. Perhaps this aircraft has already launched munitions on this flight or perhaps 2x air to ground weapons, plus the internal cannon is all the aircraft can carry in order to meet the range requirements for this particular mission, who knows?

I wouldn't be too quick to judge based on this single photo. You've no idea what the aircraft is actually doing...