Flatsville,
I see now that the article mentions this. I tried to connect to it earlier when I was typing the post and had trouble getting through so I was unable to read it at that time.
There is a system called IFF (Information, Friend, Foe) that is used on attack helicopters and Air Force jets to prevent fratricide (often oxymoronically called "friendly fire"). Each vehicle would possess an encryted identifier code that would be transmitted in response to an "interrogation" signal by the firing asset.
I hadn't realized that they had incorporated GSP into a "911" style radio unit, but it makes a lot of sense and I can obviously acknowledge its usefulness. Of course, things that make "sense", cost mucho "cents", and given that our "commander in chief" loathed the military (up until recently) and has been cutting procurement of this whizbang technology from the defense budget, I'm not surprised these boys didn't have it.
It still does not excuse their irresponsible actions of leaving their convoy formation. Had they not done so, it is quite likely that the Serbs would have thought twice about getting frisky and trying a snatch.
Thanks for correcting me on that. As I said, I had been unable to retreive the article when I posted that response.
As for NEW high resolution spy satellites, I can't imangine getting much higher resolution than can currently be achieved by the current KH series and LaCrose penetrating radar sytems.
Maybe they'll actually be able to read the classifieds now from 130 miles high, instead of just the headlines. That is, if the skies are clear and there is only moderate atmospheric distortion.
As for GPS accuracy.. the more satellites they have up there plotting fixes, the more accurate data the receivers can provide.
Looking forward to reading the comments from Koskinen. I missed the segment today.
Take care.
Regards,
Ron |
