Read Before Watching Video....

This is a video from a F16 doing CAS (combat air strike) during the
recent fighting in Fallujah. We have been bombing insurgent "safe
houses" with some success recently. This F-16 was on such a mission, to
hit a building with an LGB (laser guided bomb).


After the weapon had been launched 30 + insurgents left the building en
masse to hurry to a nearby engagement with US Marines. The fighting had
been going on for hours. The pilot communicates with the FAC (forward
air controller) either in the air or on the ground, and changes the
flight path of the bomb while it is en route to the target. You can
clearly see the "L" flashing in the MFD (multi-function display), and
TGP (terminally guided projectile) is selected. It is the pilot who says
"I got numerous individuals on the road, do you want me to take those
out?" The FAC s ays "Take em out!"


Now, to put this in focus for you so you can get a glimpse into the
complexities of the modern battlefield and the flexibilities of the
modernU.S. war fighter: You have a supersonic high performance aircraft
being driven by a single pilot who, under the tactical control of a FAC,
launches a PGM (precision guided munition) at a designated structure
(building). The pilot uses the aircraft's laser guidance video display
to guide the weapon to the target (precision).

Remember, he is also flying the aircraft. The pilot sees the video on
his heads-up display and notices a bunch of combatants leaving the
targeted building, turning the corner and heading down the street
towards an active firefight. The pilot advises the FAC of the change in
the status of the target requesting to target the combatants en route to
the firefight rather than hitting an empty building. I wonder how many
Marines were saved by "eliminating" those en route to engage them?