Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!military
From: aws@vax3.iti.org (Allen W. Sherzer)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: How Many B-2's Are Enough ???
Message-ID: <8446@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 20 Jul 89 01:34:59 GMT
References: <8347@cbnews.ATT.COM> <8413@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: Evil Geniuses for a Better Tomorrow
Lines: 47
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: aws@vax3.iti.org (Allen W. Sherzer)

In article <8413@cbnews.ATT.COM> sun!Central!uokmax!jkmedcal@uunet.UU.NET (Jeff K Medcalf) writes:
>Except the Soviets are way ahead of us in IR technology (in fact, most if not
>all of thier newer fighters have infrared sensors on them, enabling an elec-
>tronically silent approach and kill), and may very well opt to up this lead,
>put large airborne infrared sensors in service in conjunction with satellites,
>and thus spend much less money developing a counter.  This would not be good
>enough to stop a fleet, but it could stop 5-10.

Stealth technology deals with everything. That includes being quiet not 
only to radar but to IR and sound as well. The device you refer to is
called Infa-Red Search and Track (IRST) and the soviets were not the first
to use them. We used them a long time ago (F-106) but found they weren't
useful and dropped them. The problem is that the pilots are just too busy
and don't have time to monitor another sensor. As to them being way ahead
in IR technology, why do you say this? We had all aspect IR guided missiles
long before they did. There is even reason to think they copied their
all aspect missile from us.

I have however, been told by an F-15 pilot that AIM-9L's are sometimes
used as an IRST. He said that after an engagement a pilot sometimes
uncages the seeker and does a quick turn. If he hears the buzz he knows
there is something in that direction.

>Spies and their supplies, I would assume, have routes in and out
>which give them some cover and legitimacy 

There is already a version of the C-130 used for this (covert landing of
spies or saboteures.

>I also notice that a 747 costs about $174 million.  Even if the B-2's run at
>around $500 million each, I question whether that is too high of a cost
>differential.  Does anybody know the costs of a B-17 and a DC-3?  Or a B-52 and
>a 707?  Try comparing in those terms, and I am willing to bet that B-2 is not
>much, if any, above the ratio of cost of previous bombers and transports.

The Sec. of Defense was on McNeil-Lehrer recently. He said that all recent
bombers (B-52, B-1, and B-2) all cost about 1.5% of the DOD budget.

   Allen
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  Allen Sherzer                      |  PEACE                             |
|  aws@iti.org                        |  through superior firepower        |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------