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From: wdstarr@athena.mit.edu (William December Starr)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Shoulder-fired SAM's
Message-ID: <12261@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 13 Dec 89 04:27:15 GMT
References: <12171@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: Northeastern University
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Approved: military@att.att.com



From: wdstarr@athena.mit.edu (William December Starr)

In article <12171@cbnews.ATT.COM>, Henry Spencer said:

> > [discussion of SAMs detonating on tailpipe impact rather than engine
> > impact and thereby doing only cosmetic damage.]
> 
> Which is why modern Israeli A-4s have extended tailpipes!  They've also
> offered this simple survivability mod commercially; I've been rather
> surprised that none of the other Skyhawk operators have taken it up.
> It's a trifle unsightly, but it's an effective way to keep the missile
> warhead just a bit farther away from the engine.

I think you just answered your own question: the world's full of
procurement officers who wouldn't be caught dead purchasing any
aircraft that came with mods that made it look less cool...