Delete comment from: Elements Of Power
The Serbs had a very competent, albeit older IADS system that, more importantly, was operated intelligently using lessons learned from watching our performance in Desert Storm. One reason we dropped bridges on the Danube was to discourage 'someone' from barging a double-digit system int Serb hands to make sure the IADS didn't get any better than it was. There are also certain B-1 aircrews I know of that are thankful they weren't any more competent. Serbs employed many of those types of radars that the more vocal detrators of 'Stealth' swear up and down that LO aircraft are most vulnerable to their use/frequencies. The F-117 shootdown probably involved much more than the 'technology', and far more of the tactics and ROE half of the 'Stealth' equation, with, IMHO, some rat-faced subversives thrown in to boot. See: http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj02/sum02/lambeth.html for a pretty good after action summary. It should be noted that the 'other' LO platform not only took out one of the most problematic SAM operator the Serbs had, but at one time drove right over a popup SAM threat that never saw them. B-2 crews enjoyed the Serb and CNN claims of mass Tomahawk attacks because that told them the Serbs didn't even know they were overhead. As to the second F-117 gettng hit, I have found NO credible sources for those rumors.
Aug 2, 2012, 11:58:10 PM
Posted to Et Tu 'Flight Journal'?