Free-Fall Bomb (an unguided bomb)
Free-fall bomb (an unguided bomb) – gravity bomb, dumb bomb, or iron bomb, is a conventional aircraft-delivered bomb that does not contain a guidance system and hence, simply follows a ballistic trajectory.
This described all aircraft bombs in general service until the latter half of World War II, and the vast majority until the late 1980s.
Then, with the dramatically increased use of precision-guided munitions, a retronym was needed to separate 'smart bombs' from free-fall bombs. 'Dumb bomb' was used for a time, but many military circles felt it sounded too trite, and eventually “gravity bomb” gained currency. Previously, they were also referred to as 'iron bombs'.
Unguided bombs typically use a contact fuse for detonation upon impact, or some milliseconds after if a penetration effect is required. One alternative is a fuse with an altimeter, to cause an air burst at the desired altitude.
Bomb casings for unguided bombs are typically aerodynamic in shape, often with fins at the tail section, which reduce drag and increase stability after release, improving the trajectory's accuracy and consistency.
Unguided bombs typically use a contact fuze for detonation upon impact or some milliseconds after if a penetration effect is required. Alternatives include a fuze with an altimeter to cause an air burst at the desired altitude and a proximity fuze to cause an air burst at a specific distance from the ground or other target [Wikiwand].
The Unguided Bomb (UGB) is a recurring bomb-type special weapon. The bomb has a moderate blast radius, allowing players to damage or destroy a cluster of targets. It has no guidance, requiring a piper to manually drop the bomb over the intended targets [Acepedia].
Retrieved from: https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Unguided_bomb.
Unguided bomb. Acepedia. Retrieved from: https://acecombat.fandom.com/wiki/Unguided_Bomb
Unguided bomb. Wikiwand. Retrieved from: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Unguided_bomb