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From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Air Superiority B-52
Message-ID: <1991Jun12.012533.25195@amd.com>
Date: 10 Jun 91 18:06:18 GMT
Article-I.D.: amd.1991Jun12.012533.25195
References: <1991May22.034943.27949@amd.com> <1991May23.062740.17080@amd.com> <1991Jun5.064854.26330@amd.com>
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From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)


> From: johnhall@microsoft.UUCP (John Hall)
> I think the radar dish would detonate a missle if one was
> carried, which is why AWACS doesn't.  
> That is a lot of radiation flux.
 
The main reason AWACS is unarmed is to allow the aircraft more freedom
to traverse national airspace.  As an unarmed surveillance airplane, 
"neutral" countries allow AWACS to fly through their airspace unhindered.
Whereas a more "offensive, armed" airplane would be more restricted in its
movements.  

Secondly, AWACS is full of radar/electronics/sensors/radar paraphenalia
and consoles and controllers and surveillance technicians - so - there's
no room for any weapons and associated weapons-avionics.

mts