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From: xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov (Nigel Tzeng)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: stealth fighters in the Persian Gulf
Message-ID: <1990Aug23.014650.1940@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 23 Aug 90 01:46:50 GMT
References: <1990Aug16.030343.15298@cbnews.att.com> <1990Aug21.024926.1467@cbnews.att.com>
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From: xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov (Nigel Tzeng)
In article <1990Aug21.024926.1467@cbnews.att.com>, convex!cash@uunet.UU.NET (Peter Cash) writes...
^In article <1990Aug16.030343.15298@cbnews.att.com> smb@ulysses.att.com (Steven Bellovin) writes:
^ 
^>The AP, quoting the usual unnamed sources, said that 22 F-117A stealth
^>fighters would leave for the Persian Gulf on Thursday.
^ 
^How useful are stealth fighters in this situation? Given the state of Iraqi
^military technology, will it really be an advantage to have stealth
^technology? Or would we be better off having more (and cheaper)
^conventional planes?
 

A similar question:  I heard rumors that the ALQ131 had proven itself against
Soviet radar guided missiles in the brief tiff between Isreal and Syria a few 
years back.  I don't recall the air score but it was very lop sided in favor
for Isrealis.  

Does this mean that US aircraft would be virtually impervious it the Iraquis
which presumably has the same types of aircraft and missles?  Or have they
recieved upgrades to their equipment?  Also would anyone know how well the
ALQ did against radar SAMs?  Reducing the threat to just IR guided makes life a
lot easier because the ranges are much smaller.  You don't get much of a
warning but that hopefully wont be much of a problem.

If the ALQ is that effective the F117 is probably not as important as it would
be against a higher tech opponent.  Still nice for surprise though.

NT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   // | Nigel Tzeng - STX Inc - NASA/GSFC COBE Project
 \X/  | xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov
      | 
Amiga | Standard Disclaimer Applies:  The opinions expressed are my own.