PARIS, 21 March 2003 — The opening shots in the latest Gulf War have highlighted Washington’s big gamble — that “smart technology” will work as advertised.
The first few hours of the conflict saw an attempt to decapitate the Iraqi leadership and a missile duel over Kuwait, with US Patriots pitched against incoming Iraqi Scuds. These events reflect US hopes the latest precision weapons will deliver a swift, clean victory while using half the number of US troops compared to the 1991 conflict, and that a new generation of anti-missile missiles will shield forces on the ground. In the first Gulf War, only seven percent of bombs dropped by the US-led coalition were guided. This time, say Pentagon officials, precision weapons will account for 70 percent.
The guidance system in the 1991 weapons was an infra-red laser beam, directed by a plane or a spotter on the ground to “illuminate” the target.
The laser spot is picked up by a sensor on the bomb’s nose, and the data is used to control tail fins to home in on the target.
The problem: Laser-guided bombs need a clear sky to be accurate. If there are clouds or a sandstorm, the targeting can go awry.
The accidental loss in civilian lives can be grim and politically costly — and, for this war especially, the United States and its ally Britain are desperate not to waste their slender capital of goodwill.
Since 1991, the United States has invested heavily in all-weather “smart” bombs, most of which depend on radio signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS) to reach their target.
The GPS is a constellation of 24 satellites in low orbit that send out signals giving their position as they encircle the Earth twice a day. By getting signals from two or more satellites, a receiver can triangulate its own position to within a few meters.