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From: euming@mrcnext.uiuc.edu (Lee Eu-Ming)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: How effective was the Stealth fighter?
Message-ID: <1991Apr13.015108.23305@amd.com>
Date: 13 Apr 91 00:14:44 GMT
References: <1991Apr9.025945.1283@amd.com> <1991Apr11.033856.5300@amd.com> <1991Apr12.055301.14403@amd.com>
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From: euming@mrcnext.uiuc.edu (Lee Eu-Ming)


prentice%triton.unm.edu@ariel.unm.edu (John Prentice) writes:

>If in fact Stealth technology worked well and paved the way for our
>air victory, then all I am asking for is a discussion of what evidence
>there is to say that this was the only technology that could have done
>this job.

I think you are discussing two different things.  I'm quite sure that
the Allies could have won the war without the F117; there would have been
more losses and the war would have lasted longer.  However, the F117
outperforms other aircraft in terms of first strike capabilities because
it is stealthy.  Since the goal of US forces is to accomplish what the
president commands as quickly as possible, the F117 is needed as it helps
the US to accomplish its goals quicker.

Now, here is the real stickler as I see it.  'Quick' is not the only thing
considered when choosing a method of attack.  'Loss of life', 'International
effects', and yes even 'Cost' often come into play when choosing what our
force structure will be.  I personally think the US should build more high
tech weapons--I never met a weapons system I didn't like.  (Kinda hawkish,
eh? :) )  Unfortunately, I am not a member of our government, and, like
everyone else, can only voice my opinions on what should be considered when
developing a new weapon.

Now, to top it all off, think of who DOES make decisions about the validity
of weapons developments.  That's right, the senate armed forces comittee,
and they're cleared for all of that sensitive information that is withheld
from the public.  Since they base their judgements on the best data
available, and they decided to deploy the F117, I have to conclude that there
are good reasons for deploying it.  I know this is somewhat of an idealistic
view of the government, but I wasn't paying much attention to politics during
some of the large DoD scams after WW2/Vietnam, and I remain very optimistic
of them.