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Politics : America Under Siege: The End of Innocence -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Susan G who wrote (7373)	10/15/2001 9:56:33 PM
From: Qone0	Respond to of 27666

The AC-130U, commonly referred to as "U-Boat", is the most complex aircraft weapons system in the world today. It has more than 609,000 lines of software code in its mission computers and avionics systems. The newest addition to the command fleet, it is the latest in a long line of heavily-armed, side-firing gunships and is named "Spooky II" in honor of the first gunship model, the AC-47D. All other AC-130s are referred to as "Spectre". The prototype AC-130U (#87-0128) made its first flight on 20 December 1990. The initial flight test period lasted through 21 December 1991 and consisted of 48 test flights, a total of 165 hours. The "Spooky II" gunship program consists of 13 new Lockheed C-130H airframes modified by Boeing with improved armament, advanced sensors, a Hughes APG-180 fire control radar system, GPS, the ALQ-172 Electronic Countermeasure System, an ALR-56M radar warning receiver, an APR-46A panoramic receiver, and an AAR-44 infrared warning receiver integrated with a series of ALE-40 chaff & flare dispensers. The modifications allow the aircraft to perform the full range of special operations and conventional gunship missions, at night and in adverse weather. These aircraft also have the capability to loiter for long periods over targets, while providing precision fire support. A multi-mode strike radar provides extreme long-range target detection and identification. It is able to track 40mm and 105mm projectiles and return pinpoint impact locations to the crew for subsequent adjustment to the target. The fire control system offers a Dual Target Attack capability, whereby two targets up to one kilometer apart can be simultaneously engaged by two different sensors, using two different guns. No other air-ground attack platform in the world offers this capability. Targeting equipment installed in the gunship includes an advanced All-Light Level Television (ALLTV) system with a laser illuminator, laser target designator, laser range finder, infrared detection set, and night vision goggles for the pilots. Navigational devices include the inertial navigation system (INS) and global positioning system (GPS). The side-firing weapons array consists of one 25mm GAU-12 Gatling gun (firing 1,800 rounds per minute), one 40mm L60 Bofors cannon (with a selectable firing rate of single shot or 120 rounds per minute) and one 105mm M-102 Howitzer cannon (firing 6 to 10 rounds per minute). Defensive systems include a countermeasures dispensing system that releases chaff and flares to counter radar infrared-guided antiaircraft missiles. Also, infrared heat shields mounted underneath the engines disperse and hide engine heat sources from infrared-guided antiaircraft missiles. The AC-130U is pressurized, enabling it to fly at higher altitudes, saving fuel and time, and allowing for greater range than the AC-130H. An inflight refueling capability is also provided. spectrumwd.com

To: Susan G who wrote (7373)	10/15/2001 10:48:23 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Respond to of 27666

I'm a little surprised too. My guess is that it's a case of 'hear no evil, see no evil', or else someone is afraid that an examination of this issue will upset some vested interests.... Two points: The NRC has conducted test assaults on some of our nuclear facilities (with six months notice to the operators :-), and most of these security audits failed to achieve very reassuring results. Yet, a big expansion of the nuclear power industry was a much remarked upon component of this year's Bush/Cheney energy plan, with no mention made of security, and no solution to the problem of permanent waste disposal. I think there may be some financial interests (notable campaign contributors in the last election cycle) who really are hoping these security issues stay low profile.

To: Susan G who wrote (7373)	10/16/2001 7:59:00 AM
From: Ken Robbins	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 27666

Airliner crashing into a nuclear plant: It is very doubtful that an airliner impact would result in radioactive release. Nuclear reactors are protective by massive containment structures, although not specifically designed to resist such an impact, would probably protect the core just because it is massive and hard relative to an airliner. Refer to the reactor building cross section at the following site: nei.org Even it the impact were to penetrate the outer and inner reinforced concrete shields, which I doubt it would, the 8" thick steel reactor vessel would most surely protect the core. That being said, the plant could be shut down a very long time.