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From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude))
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Shoulder-Launched AA Missles
Message-ID: <11964@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 5 Dec 89 03:54:53 GMT
References: <11927@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: UCLA
Lines: 44
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude))

In article <11927@cbnews.ATT.COM> military@cbnews.ATT.COM (William B. Thacker) writes:
> ...  Let me put forth
>a deliberately somewhat hyperbolic hypothesis and see what discussion
>it brings out.

There are lots of possible things to discuss here, but let me bring up
a few points.

>I hypothesize that the shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missle makes
>much of the modern air force obsolete.  

Certainly, you mean just those aircraft which have to expose
themselves to such fire, like CAS aircraft. Aircraft on air
superiority missions or ones using stand-off weapons against
high-value targets are not likely to enter the engagement envelope of
light SAMs. 

>The major reason is the cost
>differential.

Obviously, one SAM costs less than a CAS aircraft. But, the cost
differential must of course be matched to average number of shots
necessary to bring an aircraft down and the damage the aircraft is
doing in the meantime. 

>Secondary considerations are size and portability.
>In short, any airplane you can build, I can shoot down for much less
>cost and from pretty much any position.

A large range of factors goes into the effectiveness of a weapon. The
Stinger was very effective in Afghanistan when introduced. But lately,
from recent press reports, it seems the Stinger has lost much of its
effectiveness due to improved tactics on the Afghan Air Force. 

-ted

Ted Kim                           
UCLA Computer Science Department  Internet: tek@penzance.cs.ucla.edu
3804C Boelter Hall                UUCP:    ...!{uunet|ucbvax}!cs.ucla.edu!tek
Los Angeles, CA 90024		  Phone:   (213) 206-8696