Warplanes: June 14, 2004

Archives

The United States isnt talking much about how they are using UAVs and helicopters to deal with roadside bombs in Iraq, but these aircraft are being used intensively to deal with the problem. Israel has been less reticent, with recent press reports giving some details. When Israeli troops go into hostile territory, like Gaza, they are preceded by UAVs that have high resolution cameras that either detect bombs, or catch Palestinians placing the bombs. Nearby helicopters then come over and use Hellfire missiles to destroy the bombs, and often the Palestinians that were still in the process of planting them. The Israelis admit to using a communications network between the UAVs, helicopters and troops on the ground (who are also looking for bombs) to instantly exchange information. These tactics have worked, destroying over 90 percent of the bombs placed. 

In Iraq, the U.S. is apparently more intent on keeping their anti-bomb tactics quiet. This is because the Iraqis placing the bombs have been very responsive to new American tactics. Thus its a situation where bragging about how successful the latest anti-bomb techniques are could quickly result in coalition casualties as some Iraqi bomb users found ways to counter the American tactics. 

It is known that hundreds of UAVs have been sent to Iraq, along with a large quantity of new technology for the anti-bomb effort. A lot of the new, often right out of the lab, technology didnt work. Some of it worked, but was then defeated, or stunted, by new Iraqi bomb making and placement techniques.

It has been admitted that most of the bombs are found and disarmed (for examination) or destroyed before they can be used. But there are a dozen or more times a week that the bombs do go off near coalition troops. The full story of the roadside bombs, and techniques used to deal with them, wont be known until American troops have left Iraq, or most of the bomb makers and users are rounded up.



 


Article Archive

Warplanes: Current 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 


X

ad
0
20

Help Keep Us Soaring

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month.

Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage. A contribution is not a donation that you can deduct at tax time, but a form of crowdfunding. We store none of your information when you contribute..
Subscribe   Contribute   Close