Unclear on the Concept Award

[gridlore]

According to the SFGate, critical information regarding Air Force One's missile defenses and vulnerable spots was posted on a public website. This is, of course, a bad thing. The information was in the process of being removed as the story went to press.

However, the story includes this comment:

"Having information about a target's countermeasures does two things," said Daniel Goure of the Lexington Institute. "It gives you an opportunity to choose a different weapon and to choose a different attack style ... perhaps choosing to launch a salvo attack, or choose a missile that uses an active beam."

(emphasis mine)

Gee thanks! Now I know that to overload the defenses of the Presidents plane, I just need to fire multiple missiles or choose a radar guided missile for my attack. Nice job, Mr. Goure, for mentioning these facts, and kudos for the Chronicle for including the quote!

Morons!

Comments

[todkaninchen.livejournal.com]

Typically, radar guided weapons are not really considered "beam riders" and, I would expectm Air Force One to be fitted with at least the same type of ECM suite fighters get which may include flares, chaff, and jammers. Additionally, I wouldn't be surprised if it has an IR tracker jammer similar to those on the Apaches...

I think the reference to "active beam" may be toward a laser like used on the UK's Starstreak antiaircraft missiles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starstreak). Unlike radar which is relatively easy to detect and possibly jam, lasers are more difficult to detect/jam, they use simple line-of-sight to track, and--although requiring the firer to maintain a laser "lock" on target until impact--probably take a similar amount of exposure time for the firer because of a quicker time from detection to firing.