Difference between revisions of "AGM-62A Walleye I ER (510 kg)"

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The Walleye is physically large, as big as a the [[LDGP_Mk_84_(2,000_lb)|2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb]]. This is due to the guidance system in the ordnance, with the explosive amount more analogous to a [[LDGP_Mk_83_(1,000_lb)|1,000 lb bomb]]. In fact, the design makes the ordnance look like a missile, though it would be a misnomer to label it as such since it does not contain any of its own propulsion, simply gliding itself to the locked-on target.
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The Walleye is physically large, as big as a the [[LDGP_Mk_84_(2,000_lb)|2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb]]. This is due to the guidance system in the ordnance, with the explosive amount more analogous to a [[LDGP_Mk_83_(1,000_lb)|1,000 lb bomb]]. In fact, while its appearance and Tri-Service missile designation (AGM-62) makes the Walleye seem like a missile, that's actually a misnomer as it's unpowered (simply gliding itself to the locked target using guidance avionics, like all other guided bombs).
  
 
=== Effective damage ===
 
=== Effective damage ===
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<!-- ''Describe situations when you would utilise this bomb in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe situations when you would utilise this bomb in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)'' -->
  
The AGM-62 has a TV guidance system similar to the AGM-65B missile. It is best used against ground targets, moving or static. However, the AGM-62 can also lock positions on the ground making it difficult to determine when the guidance system has locked onto a vehicle/target or the position near the vehicle/target. This is an issue for ground realistic battles where a stopped target may start moving at any moment making it important that the vehicle is being tracked, and with no way to determine whether the target or the ground is locked, it can make these weapons somewhat annoying to use in ground RB. Furthermore, the AGM-62 uses whatever bomb timer you have set, so remember to reset it to "assault fuse" when selecting Walleye loadouts, as having a bomb delay for the Walleye has no utility.  
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The AGM-62A has a TV guidance sensor similar to the [[AGM-65B]] missile. It's most effective against ground targets, with the guidance system allowing the bomb to target both static and moving targets due to its tracking ability after a lock. However, an issue with the AGM-62A is that it can be difficult to discern whether the AGM-62A locked onto the vehicle or just the ground, which would leave one wondering if the lock is on the vehicle (in which case the guidance system will track it if moving), or just the ground where it will not adjust for the moving target. This is especially problematic in ground realistic battles if the AGM-62A is trying to lock onto a static target and it moves after release (as there is no way to verify whether the lock was made on the target or on the ground).
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During Ground Realistic Battles, it is important to check whether the enemy has SAM units present. SAMs are a big threat to players trying to utilize the AGM-62A, as in a SAM heavy environment the launching aircraft will likely get shot down by the time it: gets to a proper release altitude and speed, found a target, and then dropped it. SAMs and radar-guided AAA may even destroy a falling AGM-62A if they spot it due to the bomb's slow moving, predictable nature.
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Some considerations when spawning with a AGM-62A loadout. First, if the battle is a night battle the AGM-62's sensors cannot lock onto anything and so their capabilities are useless (choose a different, non-Walleye loadout during the night). Second, set the bomb fuse to "0.0s" on Walleye loadouts to make sure the bomb will explode once it hits the ground, as there is no purpose for a precision-guided bomb to have a delay after landing.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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* Explosive payload is large enough for close hits to do devastating damages to ground targets.
 
* Explosive payload is large enough for close hits to do devastating damages to ground targets.
 
* Can be lobbed onto a target from quite a long distance if deployed at high speed and altitude
 
* Can be lobbed onto a target from quite a long distance if deployed at high speed and altitude
* Costs a low amount of spawn points per weapon
 
 
* Can be dropped onto slow moving/hovering helicopters
 
* Can be dropped onto slow moving/hovering helicopters
  
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* Cannot be dropped without lock
 
* Cannot be dropped without lock
 
* Large size means only a few can be carried by aircraft
 
* Large size means only a few can be carried by aircraft
* Will undershoot the target if the release speed is too slow
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* Will undershoot the target if the release speed/altitude is too low
 
* Cannot lock targets at night (even if the target is illuminated)
 
* Cannot lock targets at night (even if the target is illuminated)
* TV-guided camera views from the aircraft's frontal arc, requires pointing the aircraft at the general location of the enemy to begin targeting
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* Cannot adjust its magnification level
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* Is relatively easy to intercept with radar guided AAA/SAMs
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* The TV-sensor views from the aircraft's frontal arc, requires pointing the aircraft at the general location of the enemy to begin targeting
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** Said sensor is also in black and white only, hindering target identification
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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* [[wt:en/news/7398-development-new-guided-aircraft-bombs-en|[Devblog] New guided aircraft bombs]]
 
* [[wt:en/news/7398-development-new-guided-aircraft-bombs-en|[Devblog] New guided aircraft bombs]]
  
{{Bombs}}
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{{Guided bombs}}
  
 
[[Category:Suspended armaments]]
 
[[Category:Suspended armaments]]

Latest revision as of 11:24, 25 June 2023

This page is about the "extended-range" AGM-62A Walleye I ER (510 kg). For the original TV-guided munition of the same designation, see AGM-62A Walleye I (505 kg).

Description

The AGM-62A Walleye I ER guided bomb (scale is approximate)


The AGM-62A Walleye I ER is an American guided bomb for aircraft use. It is one of the first guided bombs introduced into War Thunder in Update "Ground Breaking".

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

Bomb characteristics
Guidance TV
Mass 510 kg
Explosive mass 201.8 kg
Explosive type Composition B
TNT equivalent 264.36 kg

The Walleye is physically large, as big as a the 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb. This is due to the guidance system in the ordnance, with the explosive amount more analogous to a 1,000 lb bomb. In fact, while its appearance and Tri-Service missile designation (AGM-62) makes the Walleye seem like a missile, that's actually a misnomer as it's unpowered (simply gliding itself to the locked target using guidance avionics, like all other guided bombs).

Effective damage

As mentioned earlier, the explosive amount in the Walleye is closer to equivalent to the 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bomb. The Walleye contains a TNT equivalent of 264.36 kg in its warhead, compared to the LDGP Mk 83's 272.43 kg TNT equivalent. However, its combat utility can be much higher than a LDGP Mk 83 due to the TV guidance in the Walleye, allowing precise targeting of ground targets from a high-altitude.

Comparison with analogues

Give a comparative description of bombs that have firepower equal to this weapon.

Usage in battles

The AGM-62A has a TV guidance sensor similar to the AGM-65B missile. It's most effective against ground targets, with the guidance system allowing the bomb to target both static and moving targets due to its tracking ability after a lock. However, an issue with the AGM-62A is that it can be difficult to discern whether the AGM-62A locked onto the vehicle or just the ground, which would leave one wondering if the lock is on the vehicle (in which case the guidance system will track it if moving), or just the ground where it will not adjust for the moving target. This is especially problematic in ground realistic battles if the AGM-62A is trying to lock onto a static target and it moves after release (as there is no way to verify whether the lock was made on the target or on the ground).

During Ground Realistic Battles, it is important to check whether the enemy has SAM units present. SAMs are a big threat to players trying to utilize the AGM-62A, as in a SAM heavy environment the launching aircraft will likely get shot down by the time it: gets to a proper release altitude and speed, found a target, and then dropped it. SAMs and radar-guided AAA may even destroy a falling AGM-62A if they spot it due to the bomb's slow moving, predictable nature.

Some considerations when spawning with a AGM-62A loadout. First, if the battle is a night battle the AGM-62's sensors cannot lock onto anything and so their capabilities are useless (choose a different, non-Walleye loadout during the night). Second, set the bomb fuse to "0.0s" on Walleye loadouts to make sure the bomb will explode once it hits the ground, as there is no purpose for a precision-guided bomb to have a delay after landing.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Good for precision drops on static targets and can lock onto moving targets
  • Explosive payload is large enough for close hits to do devastating damages to ground targets.
  • Can be lobbed onto a target from quite a long distance if deployed at high speed and altitude
  • Can be dropped onto slow moving/hovering helicopters

Cons:

  • Locking onto targets (especially moving ones) can be difficult due to distance and/or ground obstructions
  • Cannot be dropped without lock
  • Large size means only a few can be carried by aircraft
  • Will undershoot the target if the release speed/altitude is too low
  • Cannot lock targets at night (even if the target is illuminated)
  • Cannot adjust its magnification level
  • Is relatively easy to intercept with radar guided AAA/SAMs
  • The TV-sensor views from the aircraft's frontal arc, requires pointing the aircraft at the general location of the enemy to begin targeting
    • Said sensor is also in black and white only, hindering target identification

History

Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

External links


Guided bombs
USA 
285 lb  GBU-39/B (SDB I)
500 lb  GBU-38 JDAM · GBU-38(V)2/B JDAM
277 kg  GBU-12 Paveway II
1,092 lb  GBU-16 Paveway II
505 kg  AGM-62A Walleye I
510 kg  AGM-62A Walleye I ER
1,970 lb  GBU-31 JDAM
2,000 lb  GBU-8 · GBU-15(V)1/B · GBU-15(V)2/B · GBU-24 Paveway III
957 kg  GBU-10 Paveway II
2,185 lb  GBU-27 Paveway III
Germany 
1,045 kg  HS 293 A-1*
1,400 kg  PC 1400 X (Fritz X)*
USSR 
50 kg  KAB-50L · KAB-50TV
250 kg  KAB-250LG
500 kg  KAB-500Kr · KAB-500Kr-E · KAB-500Kr-M · KAB-500L · KAB-500LG · KAB-500S · UPAB-500B
598 kg  Grom-2
1,500 kg  KAB-1500Kr · KAB-1500L · KAB-1500LG · UPAB-1500B
Britain 
277 kg  Paveway IV
404 kg  PGM 500 · PGM 500/3
546 kg  Mk.13
1,060 kg  PGM 2000 · PGM 2000/3
2,038 lb  EGBU-24B Paveway III
China 
250 kg  GB250 · LS-6 250
500 kg  GB500 · LS-6 500
1,000 kg  GB1000
Italy 
277 kg  BA-FG-230-Lizard-2
France 
277 kg  GBU-49 Paveway II
400 kg  BGL-400
1,092 lb  GBU-48 Paveway II
2,081 lb  GBU-50 Paveway II
970 kg  BGL-1000
  * Armour-piercing bomb
See also  List of unguided bombs · List of armour-piercing bombs · List of retarded bombs