Academia Básica del Aire Negociado de Idiomas

UNIT 1 MER

BOMBS

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Academia Básica del Aire Negociado de Idiomas

READING

TEXT 1. EXERCISE 1. CHOOSE THE BEST OPTIONS FOR EACH QUESTION

1. Bombs must be able to… Certain conditions must be met.

Be dropped in a safe condition

2. For a fuze to cause the detonation of a

bomb…

3. Where are the sensitive explosive elements located?

In the fuze itself.

4. The main charge is activated by…

A booster charge.

5. The arming time defines…

The time the fuze needs to achieve the armed condition.

6. If the functioning time of a fuze is 0.0004 seconds it is defined as…

Non delay.

7. If a fuze has External Evidence of arming we can…

Get to know if it is armed or not.

8. Fuzes´ general classes may be subdivided…

By the action that initiates the explosive train.

TEXT 2. EXERCISE 2. CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION FOR EACH QUESTION.

1. In its simplest form, in a mechanical fuze…

A striker is driven into a detonator.

2. Which of the following design features must bombs have for safe, effective operation?

It is not mentioned.

3. The main difference between electric and mechanic fuzes is…

The use of an electric impulse rather than the spinning of a vane to initiate.

4. In an electrical fuze, the arming and functioning delays are produced by…

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The internal circuits of the fuze.

5. The energizing of the electric fuze is produced…

Only after the bomb is released from the rack.

6. In the detonator safe fuzes the explosive train…

Do not have the gears of their firing train in the appropriate arrangement for firing until the fuze is
fully armed.

7. Which of the following is a specific characteristic of shear-safe fuzes?

The arming mechanism of the fuze protrudes from the bomb, and it might be severed from the
fuze body if the bomb is accidentally dropped.

8. The most distinctive feature of the delay arming fuzes is…

That they provide a time or distance security to minimize the effects of an early explosion.

TEXT 3. EXERCISE 3. CHOOSE THE BEST OPTIONS FOR EACH QUESTION

1. How can we recognize a bomb designed to be 2. What modification may have been made on
stored in an aircraft carrier? the MK-82 MOD 2?

By its external thermal protection. Cuts may have been made in its exterior coating

3. What is the main difference between the BLU-111A/B and the BLU-110A/B fuze cavity?

In the BLU-111A/B it is even with the base of the bomb, while in the BLU-110A/B is recessed into
the baseplate.

4. Which of the following can not be found in a 5. Which of the following can not be found in
tail fuze cavity? the charging well?

A proximity sensing element. An arming wire assembly.

6. In which bomb may you find a conical fin assembly with a hinged access door?

In a BLU-110 A/B.

7. If we see a fuze cavity closed by a closure plug we can assume that…

A fuze could be installed.

8. What may help us to identify a fuze when it is not exposed?

The components in the charging well.

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TEXT 4. EXERCISE 4. CHOOSE THE CORRECT OPTION FOR EACH QUESTION

1. The missions in Iraq and Afghanistan are… 2. The expression “THE BIG ONE” is used
referring to…
About to finish.
China.

3. Which of the following is not mentioned as a feature of the targeting pods?

Video recording.

4. What information is not true about the JDAM bomb?

It has increased the number of sorties required to hit the targets.

5. In a potential conflict against China the US Air Force will…

Probably confront strong opposition.

LISTENING

AUDIO 1. THE PAVEWAY III

EXERCISE 1. LISTEN TO THE DESCRIPTION OF A BOMB AND THEN CHOOSE
THE BEST OPTION FOR EACH QUESTION.

1) What bomb is the Paveway III kit usually attached to?

A conventional 2000 lb bomb.

2) This kit converts…

A “dumb bomb” into a “smart bomb”.

3) The Paveway III kit consists of…

A. Two basic parts, one attached to the nose and the other to the tail.

4) The speed at which the bomb falls is determined by…

The speed of the aircraft that drops it and gravity.

5) How is the bomb guided?

By a laser beam that is followed by the Control Unit.

6) The Paveway III is said to be…

Accurate but expensive.

7) The Paveway III can be directed by…

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The dropping aircraft, another aircraft or a ground unit.

8) Which of the following is not mentioned as an advantage of the Paveway III kit?

It increases the effectiveness of the laser beam.

AUDIO 2. THE DELILAH MISSILE.

EXERCISE 2. FILL IN THE BLANKS
After seeking out 1its target, the Delilah can actually wait for confirmation of that target´s identity and 2only
then proceed with its attack. This human intervention means a mistake is 3 far less likely.

ENGINEER: Delilah is a precision attack missile with a loitering capability.

PILOT “In 4 the right bird, with a great weapon gives you the most advantage. It is very small; the warhead is 30
kg .Why so small? Because it is accurate and you want to control your collateral damage. It looks 5 very smooth,
very sexy. It gives you the ability to fly for long time”

ENGINEER: Cruise missiles are like 6unmanned aircraft, and they pursue preprogrammed targets. Delilah on the
other hand can 7 loiter in the target area, wait for the target for the right moment to attack.

NARRATOR: Once launched, Delilah flies completely autonomously 8 to a preprogrammed destination using GPS
and inertial navigation. A camera mounted in the nose of the missile locates a target 9 from up to ten miles away
and relays a video image back to base. If a target has to be verified the missile circles over the area awaiting
further instructions to 10 abort, attack, or seek another target.

ENGINEER: The fact that the operator can see a target, understand exactly 11 where to hit, and pursue the same
specific point is critical for success on an attack like this.

NARRATOR: The original air-launched design has recently been 12by ground and naval versions offering surface
to surface attack capability with a range in excess of 100 miles. This uses 13 a booster rocket to accelerate the
missile to the optimum altitude and position before the jet engine is ignited 14 for the cruise phase.

It can be launched from aircrafts, helicopters and, from ships or from the ground and 15.reach targets at
hundreds of kilometers away.

PILOT “With the Delilah with me I feel very confident and I´m sure that I´m going to do the mission well”

NARRATOR: 16 although highly accurate, Delilah´s small sixty pound warhead and limited range scores poorly 17
in terms of shocking out.

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AUDIO 3. MASSIVE ORDNANCE AIR BLAST.

EXERCISE 3. CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION FOR EACH QUESTION
1) The M.O.A.B. is…

A. The largest weapon in the sense of the amount of explosive being carried.

2) The M.O.A.B. weights… 3) What kind of explosive does the M.O.A.B.

carry?
21,000 pounds.
.10 tons of H-6.

4) What effect is the M.O.A.B. said to have?
A huge destructive blast
5) When was the M.O.A.B. first tested in full
operational mode?
Nine months after the beginning of the
development.

6) What is the M.O.A.B.´s flight range? 7) What kind of guidance does the M.O.A.B.
have?
Up to three Nautical miles. G.P.S. and internal gyroscopes.

8) The main charge of the M.O.A.B. will go off…

Before hitting the ground.

AUDIO 4. NEW GENERATION ORDNANCE FOR IRAQ

EXERCISE 4. CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION FOR EACH QUESTION.
1. How many bunkers and fortified structures were there in Iraq?

57.000.

2. Iraqi troops were not prepared to…

Withstand the attack of the new generation of American Air-to-Surface weapons.

3. Where is the U.S. Armament Center located?

At Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

4. How do pilots and scientist improve the guidance and delivery systems for the bombs?

Using them as in a real mission.

5. Which is not mentioned as a feature of the bombs they are talking about?

Self propelled.