tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post113268878896331057..comments2023-11-03T09:36:22.100-04:00Comments on In From the Cold: How to Shoot Down an F-117George Smileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07049707648660651119noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-87233062877780052472008-07-14T18:16:00.000-04:002008-07-14T18:16:00.000-04:00Let me know when someone actually deploys one of t...Let me know when someone actually deploys one of those mythical cellphone-radars, will you?TinkersDamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13307986305126877149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-1132777290922167282005-11-23T15:21:00.000-05:002005-11-23T15:21:00.000-05:00I've always believed that technical superiority of...I've always believed that technical superiority of weaponry always takes a distant back seat to the technical superiority of the warfighter. And as you've intimated, arrogance that trusts in weapons leaves the warfighter terribly exposed to harm.<BR/><BR/>My favorite scene in "Black Hawk Down" was the one where the helos had just dusted off the base, headed into Mogadishu. On a hill overlooking the landing field, a kid holds a cell phone over his head, providing very effective DEW capabilities to the enemy.<BR/><BR/>I also remember how badly the USAF and DoD took the news that their most expensive toy, the B-2, could be tracked in real-time via disruptions to wireless communication nets. When the B-2 was officially rolled out in 1989, I recall USAF talking heads bragging how its radar cross section was no larger than a hen's egg. At the time, I thought to myself, all someone has to do is look for an egg traveling in a straight line at 600mph. In Serbia of the late 1990's, political ineptitude and top brass arrogance (and lack of OPSEC) allowed the enemy to essentially do just that.<BR/><BR/>Finally, recall that in the early days of WWII, the Japanese had air superiority via a good combination of training and equipment (the Zero was incredibly maneuverable for its day). But over time, the sheer determination of USAAF and USN fighter pilots, willingness to fight, and desire to learn and master the enemy's weaknesses overcame any superiority based solely on technology.<BR/><BR/>I think we would do well to remember these things. Our rivals (Islamofascists, Chinese, etc.) certainly do.Wanderlusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06552045133035246679noreply@blogger.com