Rob Presentation

8/8/2019 Rob Presentation

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The Dragons Jaw: Thanh Hoa Bridge over theSong Ma River, North Vietnam c. 1970


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The Dragons Jaw, take 2: May 1972.


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GPS and WeaponsGPS and Weapons

TechnologyTechnologyRob BarnettRob Barnett

04/10/0604/10/06


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War is permeated by technology toWar is permeated by technology tothe point that every single element isthe point that every single element iseither governed by or at least linkedeither governed by or at least linked

to it it is no less true that everyto it it is no less true that everypart of technology affects war.part of technology affects war.

---- Martin Van CrevaldMartin Van Crevald


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BombsBombs

Explosive materialExplosive materialpacked into a sturdypacked into a sturdycase with a triggeringcase with a triggeringdevicedevice

Dumb bombs: fallsDumb bombs: fallsstraight to groundstraight to groundwhen droppedwhen dropped

Problem: very hard toProblem: very hard todrop a bombdrop a bombaccurately from anyaccurately from anyhigh altitudehigh altitude

Solution: precisionSolution: precisionweaponsweapons


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Precision WeaponsPrecision Weapons

SelfSelf--guiding explosives orguiding explosives ormunitionsmunitions use builtuse built--inincontrol system andcontrol system andadjustable flight finsadjustable flight fins

Force multipliers thatForce multipliers thatmaximize efficient use ofmaximize efficient use ofresourcesresources

Reduce unintendedReduce unintendedcollateral damage tocollateral damage tononnon--military targetsmilitary targets

3 types: radio3 types: radio--controlled,controlled,laserlaser--guided, satelliteguided, satelliteguidedguidedUnit-27 Enhanced Guided Bomb

(http://science.howstuffworks.com/smart-bomb1.htm)


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RemoteRemote--Controlled WeaponsControlled Weapons

Video or infrared camera relays information to plane, whereVideo or infrared camera relays information to plane, where

remote operator steers bomb towards targetremote operator steers bomb towards target Camera keeps target in center of displayCamera keeps target in center of display automaticallyautomatically

directs bomb through airdirects bomb through air

Developed by U.S. and Germans in WWII, used primarily inDeveloped by U.S. and Germans in WWII, used primarily inKorea and VietnamKorea and Vietnam

GBU-15 TV/IR Bomb(http://science.howstuffworks.com/smart-bomb2.htm)


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LaserLaser--Guided WeaponsGuided Weapons

Bomb equipped with a laser seeker sensitive to laserBomb equipped with a laser seeker sensitive to laserbeam at a certain frequencybeam at a certain frequency

Laser planted on target by human operator in air or onLaser planted on target by human operator in air or ongroundground

Used first in the late Vietnam War, then extensively inUsed first in the late Vietnam War, then extensively in

Desert Storm and KosovoDesert Storm and Kosovo Cost: approximately $60,000Cost: approximately $60,000

GBU-10 laser-guided bomb(http://science.howstuffworks.com/smart-bomb2.htm)


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A ProblemA Problem

Both remoteBoth remote--controlled weapons andcontrolled weapons andlaserlaser--guided weapons rely onguided weapons rely on

continued visual contact with thecontinued visual contact with thetarget. In cloudy weather, then, thetarget. In cloudy weather, then, thebombs may veer off course, wastingbombs may veer off course, wastingthe bomb and potentially causingthe bomb and potentially causing

costly damage to unintended targets.costly damage to unintended targets. Solution: satelliteSolution: satellite--guided weaponsguided weapons


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SatelliteSatellite--Guided WeaponsGuided Weapons

The most effective and most efficient kindThe most effective and most efficient kindofprecision weapons.ofprecision weapons.

The bombs computer uses GPS signals toThe bombs computer uses GPS signals to

steer itself towards a targets coordinates,steer itself towards a targets coordinates,and inertial navigation (velocityand inertial navigation (velocity--measuring gyroscopes) if for some reasonmeasuring gyroscopes) if for some reasonGPS fails (i.e. GPS jamming)GPS fails (i.e. GPS jamming)

The most common type of satelliteThe most common type of satellite--guidedguidedweapon: JDAMweapon: JDAM


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Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)

The most popular mechanism forThe most popular mechanism fordelivering satellitedelivering satellite--guided bombs,guided bombs,the JDAM is not an actual bomb butthe JDAM is not an actual bomb but

instead a tail kit attached to existinginstead a tail kit attached to existingdumb bombs.dumb bombs.

JDAMJDAM--equipped bombs have a CEP ofequipped bombs have a CEP of

13m, even with a loss of GPS signal13m, even with a loss of GPS signal new version accurate to 3mnew version accurate to 3m

Cost: approximately $18,000Cost: approximately $18,000


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(http://www.fas.org)


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Joint StandJoint Stand--Off Weapon (JSOW)Off Weapon (JSOW)

LongLong--rangerangesatellitesatellite--guidedguidedmissile designedmissile designed

to hit targetsto hit targetsfrom a range farfrom a range farbeyond that ofbeyond that ofantianti--aircraftaircraft

weaponryweaponry(http://www.fas.org)


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Potential DifficultiesPotential Difficulties

GPS JammingGPS Jamming this is largely accounted for bythis is largely accounted for byINS systemsINS systems

Improving accuracyImproving accuracy technology limitationstechnology limitations

Human intelligence errors (ex. Chinese EmbassyHuman intelligence errors (ex. Chinese Embassymistake)mistake)

Potential terrorist capabilities (deliveringPotential terrorist capabilities (deliveringbiological weapons, hitting highbiological weapons, hitting high--value targets,value targets,etc.)etc.)

Driving enemies off the conventional battlefieldDriving enemies off the conventional battlefield OverOver--reliance on weapons as the way to win areliance on weapons as the way to win a

warwar


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The D.I.Y. Cruise MissileThe D.I.Y. Cruise Missile

To prove a point, Bruce Simpson of NewTo prove a point, Bruce Simpson of NewZealand designed his a cruise missile inZealand designed his a cruise missile inhis garage for under $5,000. Using ahis garage for under $5,000. Using a

$120 GPS development system purchased$120 GPS development system purchasedon eBay, he was able to create a cruiseon eBay, he was able to create a cruisemissile capable of carrying a 10missile capable of carrying a 10--kg bombkg bombover 100 miles with a 100m accuracy. Allover 100 miles with a 100m accuracy. Allparts were acquired and put togetherparts were acquired and put togetherwithout raising any suspicion, and the finalwithout raising any suspicion, and the finalproduct was small enough to be launchedproduct was small enough to be launchedfrom a pickup truck. Implications?from a pickup truck. Implications?


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ConclusionsConclusions

PrecisionPrecision--guided weapons, especiallyguided weapons, especiallythose equipped with GPS technology,those equipped with GPS technology,have greatly improved the militaryshave greatly improved the militarys

strike capabilities and reduced manystrike capabilities and reduced manyof the difficulties of war.of the difficulties of war.

However, there are still significantHowever, there are still significant

improvements that can be made toimprovements that can be made tomaximize the efficiency of modernmaximize the efficiency of modernweapons technology.weapons technology.


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Part of a Larger MovementPart of a Larger Movement

GPS technology is in part so effectiveGPS technology is in part so effectivebecause of other advances in militarybecause of other advances in militarytechnology, including:technology, including:

Unmanned flying dronesUnmanned flying drones

Bombs equipped with infrared and laserBombs equipped with infrared and lasersensorssensors

Automatic targetAutomatic target--recognition algorithmsrecognition algorithms(brilliant bombs)(brilliant bombs)


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According to current and former officials,According to current and former officials,Pentagon and CIA planners have been exploringPentagon and CIA planners have been exploring

possible targets, such as the uranium enrichmentpossible targets, such as the uranium enrichmentplant at Natanz and the uranium conversionplant at Natanz and the uranium conversionfacility at Isfahan. Although a land invasion is notfacility at Isfahan. Although a land invasion is notcontemplated, military officers are weighingcontemplated, military officers are weighingalternatives ranging from a limited airstrikealternatives ranging from a limited airstrikeaimed at key nuclear sites, to a more extensiveaimed at key nuclear sites, to a more extensivebombing campaign designed to destroy an arraybombing campaign designed to destroy an arrayof military and political targets.of military and political targets.

----U.S. Is Studying Military Strike Options on IranU.S. Is Studying Military Strike Options on Iran, The Washington Post, The Washington Post, April 9, 2005, April 9, 2005

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