NATO running low on precision munitions

[MillCreek]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nato-runs-short-on-some-munitions-in-libya/2011/04/15/AF3O7ElD_story.html

Some members of the NATO group performing missions in Libya are running low on precision air-dropped bombs.  I was interested to read that there is apparently not a NATO standard for hanging bombs off planes, regardless of whom manufactured the planes.  There are ample stocks of US munitions, but they will not fit on British and French planes. 

I wonder if NATO will now draft a STANAG for a common interface for mounting air-dropped bombs.

[Monkeyleg]

I read an article about that the other day. Great Britain has spent so much on social programs that they have a fraction of the number of cruise missiles they did years ago, and have to ration them in the Libya operations.

[never_retreat]

[230RN]

^
A well-deserved zinger from Nelson!

[French G.]

Good thing there is no hungry great power anywhere east of France that wants to take over. Great defense plan to rely on the other guys being broke too. Embarrassing.

Scary too. I'm not so tied to French military jokes to think they'll ever be run over easily again, but when your conventional weapons exhaust after a few weeks of low level conflict it seems that it would be that much more likely to fall back on your nuclear deterrent. Offensive or defensive, if you don't have precison air munitions to attack air defense, C&C, and other high value targets you are going to lose the fight. Or cry for someone else to save you, not like that ever happened before.

[Matthew Carberry]

I have no problem supplying some of our stocks to our allies for this operation but since it doesn't involve the defense of Europe they need to pay retail.

[41magsnub]

I have no problem supplying some of our stocks to our allies for this operation but since it doesn't involve the defense of Europe they need to pay retail.

That's the problem, we use different guided bombs and missiles than our allies do for a large part.

[Matthew Carberry]

That's the problem, we use different guided bombs and missiles than our allies do for a large part.

Then we shall include some expert Bubbas with the shipment and charge the allies "triple key" pricing on the duct tape and baling wire.

The Euros will be responsible for supplying the beer and the "watching of this".

[230RN]

Why don't they just use trucks to drive the ordnance to the targets and then set it off by cell phone signals?

Seems to work for the jihadists.

[erictank]

Why don't they just use trucks to drive the ordnance to the targets and then set it off by cell phone signals?

Seems to work for the jihadists.

They'd have to drop the trucks from the air, too - and they can't hook them up to the planes' hardpoints.

[MechAg94]

Despite U.S. badgering, European allies have been slow in some cases to modify their planes and other weapons systems so they can accommodate U.S. bombs. Retooling these fighter jets so that they are compatible with U.S. systems requires money, and all European militaries have faced significant cuts in recent years.

It sounds to me like the bombs fit the hard points, but the electronics are out of date.  Our bombs are too smart for their airplanes. 

[French G.]

Probably wouldn't work with the GPS guided stuff, but with laser guided munitions just send the bombs off dumb from the euros jets, get a US FAC aircraft to lase for them.

[roo_ster]

Our allies' military establishments are on the brink of "Second Rate" and tipping closer toward "Irrelevant."