NEW: Follow the Editorial Staff on
StrategyPage Twitter Link

GROUND COMBAT +

AIR COMBAT +

NAVAL OPERATIONS +

SPECIAL OPERATIONS +

HUMAN FACTORS +

SPECIAL WEAPONS +

WARFARE BY THE NUMBERS +

LOGISTICS +

TOOLS +


Visit StrategyPage's US Cavalry Store
Air Defense Article Index : Current 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
 Latest
 News 		  Most
 Read 		  Most
 Commented		  Hot
 Topics

December 4, 2002

Why did the missiles fired at an Israeli airliner in Kenya miss? We will never know, but there are several possible factors:

@ The missiles were an old Soviet design and not as smart as newer models. They could track an aircraft only if within 10 degrees of its axis of flight (from the rear). Their electronics might have been corrupted or other parts could have been corroded.

@ Israeli airliners have unspecified defenses, probably infrared jammers.

@ Modern turbofan engines used on airliners (to reduce noise) surround the hot exhaust with a wall of normal air, reducing the cone from which a missile can track them even more. The mixing of the exhaust with this bypass air also cools it enough to reduce the chances of lock-on. As the pilots saw smoke trails, the missiles presumably worked but simply did not lock onto the aircraft. Older aircraft get the same defensive benefits with the addition of "hush kits".)--Stephen V Cole

submit to reddit
Send Link to a Friend

   






New Strategy - Wargames at Discount Prices
1.Modern Air Power: War Over the Middle East
2.Commander: Napoleon at War
3.Close Combat: Watch am Rhein
4.Gallic Wars
5.Fast Action Battle: The Bulge

100+ Computer and Board games all with free shipping.
 
 
 

StrategyWorld.com© 1998 - 2009StrategyWorld.com. All rights Reserved. StrategyWorld.com, StrategyPage.com, FYEO, For Your Eyes Only and Al Nofi's CIC are all trademarks of StrategyWorld.com Privacy Policy