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From: edat!brian@uunet.UU.NET (brian douglass)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: How effective was the Stealth fighter?
Message-ID: <1991Apr16.041449.27984@amd.com>
Date: 12 Apr 91 16:51:03 GMT
References: <1991Apr9.025945.1283@amd.com> <1991Apr11.033856.5300@amd.com>
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From: edat!brian@uunet.UU.NET (brian douglass)


A couple of facts on F-117a performance.

When the bombing started on Baghdad, the F-117s were already over
the target at the designated hour.  Iragi air defenses around
Baghdad were on full tilt (Good French & Soviet radar), and they
saw nothing.  Baghdad still had its lights on after the first
wave was leaving.  You don't need to be fast (F-15), or survivable
(A-10) when you can't be heard, seen, or detected.

As a FIRST STRIKE delivery system, stealth technology is a knockout
punch.  Surprise is the best tactic to win in war and stealth gives
the airplane surprise once more.  (On the question of First Strike,
obviously the Iraqiis knew we were coming as Congress had
authorized force.  This was not a sneak attack like their invasion
of Kuwait.  Also, the U.S. still reserves the right for first use
of nuclear weapons and F-117s can deliver such munitions through
any air-defense.)

In the later stages of the air campaign, when targets were being
chosen very selectively in Baghdad, it was decided that only the
F-117 would be allowed back over Baghdad.  Accuracy was the reason.
Too many targets were too closely located to civilian centers and
pinpoint accuracy was needed.  In the famous Bunker Bombing that so
many civilians were killed, two bombs were dropped in a staggered
release.  The first cut through the roof and detonated on the top
floor.  The second bomb went through the hole created by the first
and then went down into the lower reaches of the bunker and
detonated, wiping out the military staff.  Interesting isn't it how so
quickly afterwards Saddam tried to worm out a peace arrangement.

Bottom line, the F-117 fulfilled every role it was designed for,
did so with flying colors, and brought its crews home.  No other
weapon in the Coalition inventory could have performed the role the
F-117 could.  Of course, I wouldn't expect the Nighthawk to take
out tanks, or provide CAS.  There are better, cheaper systems that
are optimized for such roles.  Afterall, it is a team affair and
everybody has their job to do.

-- 
Brian Douglass			brian@edat.uucp