Supersonic Bomb Drops with Ejector Racks — Realism Issue

[CofCof]

Well, I tried posting this in the Issues section, but it didn’t go anywhere — so I’d really like your thoughts and attention on this. Modern aircraft such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, and others are currently unable to release bombs at supersonic or even high subsonic speeds in War Thunder, despite being equipped with ejector racks like the BRU-32/A, BRU-55/A, and BRU-68/A.

Why This Is a Problem

This directly contradicts how these systems work in real life.Ejector racks were specifically designed to forcibly eject bombs away from the aircraft body, making release safe at any speed within the aircraft’s operational envelope including supersonic flight.
None of the official technical sources list a fixed maximum speed for dropping bombs when using these racks. On the contrary, they highlight that these systems are engineered to counteract high-speed airflow effects, ensuring clean and safe bomb separation even during high-speed maneuvers.

How They Work

These racks use either pyrotechnic cartridges or pneumatic pressure to generate a strong ejection force, overcoming turbulent and high-pressure airflows that surround the aircraft during fast flight. This design specifically enables high-speed bomb drops, including at supersonic speeds, when needed

Russian jet too ok

This is not limited to American aircraft. Russian and Soviet-designed jets like the Su-27, Su-34, and MiG-29 also use ejector racks to release bombs at high speeds. While less technical documentation is available publicly, there is ample photographic and combat video evidence showing that these systems serve the same purpose and operate similarly to their Western counterparts.

If any developer or community member has access to additional technical documentation that suggests otherwise, I’d be glad to review it. But based on all available evidence, removing the current speed restrictions would be a step toward a more accurate and immersive experience.

Russian Fighter Bomber Ejector working in 0:10s

Technical Explanation

and some extra sources :

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/systems/bru-32.htm

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/systems/bru-57.htm

Marvin to build missile launchers and bomb-ejector racks for Navy combat jets...

Smart Multiple Carriage Racks

Release-Systems-Catalog-sas-62770_v4.pdf

BRU-32.pdf

https://navyaviation.tpub.com/14313/css/Bru-32-A-Bomb-Ejector-Rack-235.htm

[Necronomica]

Do you have any sources (approved by Gaijin as appropriate) that mention the supersonic release at all?

I personally am aware that these release mechanism are designed for supersonic release but have been unable so far to find any sources proving as such.

[quartas121]

Would F-22 dropping JDAM or SDB (I forgot which) at mach 1.5 count?

[Necronomica]

doubt it, the F-22 has an internal bay whilst the others do not, Gaijin likely need proof that the specific release rails used on each specific aircraft is approved and designed for use at supersonic speeds (this likely also means that proof needs to be found for each rail if they are different for different bombs for example).

[quartas121]

But it should at least confirm that the bombs themselves can handle supersonic speeds right?

[Necronomica]

yep, but i believe this has already been shown previously. It’s the actual release that is the issue, without specifically designed release mechanisms the bombs run a high risk of flying back up into the aircraft instead of down when dropped due to the airflow around the aircraft.

[3xKZeus]

The thing is that i can find get info of what kind of armament, what mechanism (pyro, pneumatic, etc) is used in any kind of soviet/russian release mechanisms, but specifics its impossible… because in some planes the limitations is only the aerodynamics and vortices induced by the plane fuselage and of course the accuracy of the bombing…

For example, the Mach release limit on the Phantoms is 1.1 Mach and in Su-25 (if he could reach supersonic) would also be around that value because of the positioning of the tail elevators that would impede mach release on the bombs…

[CofCof]

Personally, I haven’t found any official documentation from any specific nation explicitly stating this limitation, but there are reports and statements from manufacturers themselves confirming that these are mechanisms which, from a technical standpoint, allow safe bomb release at high speeds.

As mentioned before, even subsonic flight used to cause problems when ejector racks weren’t used. These systems were specifically designed to eject the bomb forcefully away from the aircraft,eliminating the risks caused by airflow around the airframe. With a few exceptions F-4 phantoms for exemple

[Necronomica]

That is why some release mechanisms counter these vortices by “throwing” the bomb away from the craft, like this:

GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb SDB

This is designed for release at supersonic speeds, but i have personally not found any good valid sources that state this.

[CofCof]

I can’t find any valid sources for Gajin’s perspective either, I can only find things like what you’ve just sent.That’s why I introduced this debate to the forum to see if I could get more information.

[CofCof]

Yes, the f-22 looks like it can https://www.edwards.af.mil/News/Article/396020/f-22-raptor-performs-first-supersonic-sdb-drop/ and Bomb can apparently reach at Mach 2. https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/400914/air-force-basic-research-key-to-successful-supersonic-bomb-release/

[3xKZeus]

Exactly, but as i said, if you could find manuals about those mechanisms, would be only from an engineering standpoint (components and such)…
Neither pilots or even ground crew would have the need to know at what speed is the release, unless in specific cases as obvious…
Glide bombs, at least Russian modern ones dont have mach limit(the only information i know).

[TomLiu126]

The 1993 F-15E flight manual has data on weaponry employment speeds from pages 5-22 onwards (however, it’s apparently export restricted, even though the devs cited it recently to correct the GBU-15 release speed for the F-15E, so I won’t be linking it here).

Most employment limits are between 0.85 to 0.95 Mach, except for GBU-10 and GBU-15 at 1.4 Mach. There’s also a separate KCAS limit but I don’t think the game measures that. Carriage speed limits and carriage/employment G limits are similarly ignored in-game. The racks used are mostly BRU-46/A and BRU-47/A pyrotechnic ejection racks; I’m not sure if newer racks have been used for the Strike Eagle.

Can’t find info on F/A-18 weapon employment speeds, because USN loves compartmentalisation and their separate weapons manual isn’t available online.

[CofCof]

Will this source work?

[CofCof]

Thanks for the info, but I believe the game doesn’t really have a unit that can limit the weapon’s launch ,speed only ,and in the training manuals I’ve found they say to just go ahead and launch the bomb for example, the one above, which says that the racks are made for high-speed bombing missions

[Necronomica]

It’s a good source in general but doesn’t mention any speeds at all, those issues appear already at 0.8 Mach for some craft. Sadly also “in some cases” is so vague x)

[quartas121]

F-35 can’t even go mach 2, has to be for F-22 or even NGAD

[CofCof]

Yes, you’re right, I wrote it wrong, I was talking about the bomb itself, if you open the news it’s literally the bomb being ejected at mach 2 from a weapon bay. It was meant to say that the f-22 drop bomb at mach 1.5 (supersonic speeds) and the bomb can go up to mach 2

[Necronomica]

Okay, i’m now tired and can’t really understand what i’m reading anymore lol x)

BUT i have found some interesting things (might have more but uncertain if they are okay to share so need to check first).

Things i’ve found that are okay to share so far:

---

Source one

(https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD0913290.pdf)

---

Source two

(https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/24/79/54/9eb72f864ce6f0/US11485495.pdf)

Hopefully I’ll be able to share a source on the GBU-39 rack as well soon. But right now i need sleep :P

Edit:
Sleep is for the weak, here is more:

Source three

(https://web.archive.org/web/20201108232008/https://www.cobhammissionsystems.com/weapons-carriage-and-release/air-to-ground-weapons-carriage-and-release-systems/air-to-ground-bomb-racks/bru-61a-datasheet/docview/)

And an extra image:

@Gunjob You know way more than me about aircraft things, do you have any input on these sources and the topic?

[CofCof]

Thanks man