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This CASR Background Index covers Air Force
close air support including: the potential deployment of CF-18 aircraft to Afghanistan and the key weapons used for
CAS missions – ie: the Canadian Forces’ air-to-surface land attack weapons.
Also see: Air Force and Comparisons (other Air Forces and their procurement).
Background — CF-18 Hornet Close Air Support
Weapons
• Armoured Vehicle Projects – Armoured Patrol Vehicles
Canadian Forces CF-18 Hornets Going to Kandahar?
In August of 2006, the 80th CF-18 completed Phase I of the CF-18
Incremental Modernization Program. Around the same time, Chief of Air Staff LGen Lucas suggested that the
fighters might be deployed to SE Afghanistan. Almost at once, the statement retractions began. Still, it is
possible and worth examining CAS weapons at hand.
Below are the air-dropped weapons available for the CF-18s. Not included are the CF-18’s air-to-air armament
(AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles) or the six-barreled 20mm M61 Vulcan rotary cannon
(see CF-18 CAS introduction ).
• CF-18 Air-to-Surface Weapons – ‘Dumb’ Bombs and
Guided Bombs
Mk 80 Series ‘Dumb’ Bombs – the
streamlined or ‘slick’ free-fall bombs (500 lb Mk 82, 1,000 lb Mk 83, and 2,000 lb Mk 84) whose casings
also form the basis for guided/delayed bombs.
Paveway GBU (Guided Bomb Unit)
The Paveway is a laser-guided package attached to any Mk 80 series bomb. The CF has 4 types of
Paveway kit in service: the GBU-12 (500 lb Mk 82), GBU-10 (1,000 lb Mk 83), and two
2,000lb Mk 84 variants – GBU-16 Paveway II and GBU-24 Paveway III.
Snakeye and Mk80 AIR (Air Inflatable Retarder) bombs
A ‘retarded’ bomb lacks a guidance systems but the term refers to the methods of slowing down bombs in the
air – either through high-drag fins in the case of the Snakeyes or the ‘ballute’ parachute for
the Air Inflatable Retarders.
• CF-18 Air-to-Surface Weapons – Unguided Rockets and Guided
Missiles
AGM-65G Maverick Missile. The
AGM-65G ground attack missile is guided by infrared imaging. It uses the same CF-18-mounted AN/AAS-38
NITEhawk targeting pod as a Paveway bomb.
CRV-7 Rocket. The CRV-7 is a high-velocity 70mm rocket made by
Bristol Aerospace in Winnipeg. As an unguided weapon, it requires no sophisticated sighting. CF-18s
can carry 4 x 19-round pods
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