GBU-12 Drop guide (Without laser)

[S.Russo 24]

I haven't seen this covered anywhere so far so I think I might be one of the first people (on this forum at least) to give a guide. Sometimes nobody will have a laser designation tool whilst the battlefield and so dropping laser GBU's is impossible.
By using a few formulas you can accurately drop GBU's from 9Km away (on the border of inaccuracy here). This will most certainly keep you safe from AA, you could in theory during war drop GBU's from BLUFOR side and hit well withing OPFOR and Indi territory. 

Below I'm going to put a couple of formulas on how to calculate exactly how far you need to be to perfectly drop a GBU on target. I have tested this for about 3 hours in total and I consistently manage to hit withing 30m of my target (it is quite difficult to nail the altitude because of terrain being different, hence the large area).

Things you will need to know: Your speed (m/s, not KM/h) and altitude

t= time in (s)
d = distance (the distance parallel to the ground)
S = displacement (your actual distance away)

formula 1: t = squareroot of your height/0.5*9.8
formula 2: d = yourspeed * (answer from formula 1)
formula 3: d^2 + yourheight^2
square root that answer and you will get the distance at which you need to drop your GBU from the target in order to hit.
thankfully arma 2 engine does not have any noticeable air resistance otherwise this would be impossible. I'm not sure if TLX server does but single rplayer US army showcase scenario does not

In order to do this you must maintain a constant speed and a leveled altitude until the GBU is released, being below or over on the onboard virtual horizon will result in the bomb missing. 

 

Possible scenarios for uses would be when you are too far away to see the laser from the designator, when you do not want to be noticed by enemy AA and when there is no laser designation tool.

Example:

My speed: 183 m/s (500KM/h)
my height = 500

t = SQRT(500/0,5*9.8)
  = 10.1s

S = 183 * 10.1
  = 1849

1849^2 + 500^2 = 3,668,801
SQRT(3,668,801)
= 1915 m

so the GBU needs to be dropped 1915 m away from the target.
(if you mark the target on the map and drop it when the distance is at around 2000m away it should hit)

 

This guide may sound pointless but this could be abused, especially from an A10 where you could hit OPFOR airfield from within NATO radar range during war (in theory, not tested that far out yet and it would be maybe accurate within 100m of where you want to hit, if you calculated the height difference however, they could hit within 30m. GBU might despawn though)

 

Update:

Here is some screenshots of me releasing the GBU and the point of impact as well as the damaged C130. I did miss but I blame that on the fact that I was trying to get a good screenshot (also the terrain, you wont be able to line up a perfect hit)
 

 

 

 

Edited June 13, 2018 by S.Russo

[Dereck Frost 51]

Cool! I did not understand anything and i may not ever use this but it's very nice to know about these things!

[Mez 186]

Nobody's going to do that much math for Arma, nice post though

[Slimbone 165]

[Genix 77]

51 minutes ago, Anonymous User said:

Nobody's going to do that much math for Arma, nice post though

I sure have to perfect my sniping

 

[S.Russo 24]

57 minutes ago, Anonymous User said:

Nobody's going to do that much math for Arma, nice post though

What I'll do is work out preset heights, distances and speeds and post them. Should be much easier for everyone

[Slimbone 165]

This kinda effort is what I like seeing. Well put together good sir. 10 points to Gryffindor!