How effective were ground attack aircraft

Low performance of the HVAR rockets against heavy tanks was not a secret; the problem was partially rectified with the ATAR (RAM) upgrade of the HVAR in 1950.
The real upgrade was the Canadian designed/built CRV7, a spin stabilized (with an additional set of fins acting in the venturi which stabilized it the moment it left the tube...Important!) Mach3 air-to-ground rocket built by Bristol in Winnipeg.
The CEP on this weapon is measured in feet, when fired from an aircraft in a 20 degree dive angle at 3 km from the target.
The initial HE warheads were later augmented/supplemented by Tungsten penetrator rods for use against AFV's.
This rocket is still considered as state of the art, 40+ years after IOC on the CF-104's of 1 CAG at Baden.

One of the few good things that came out of the years when Trudeau (the first? ugh!!!) held the purse-strings of our defense budget...
 
Top