Air Tactics - the SAMbush

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Raellus

I like it.

This article calls to mind an Israeli tactic used against Syrian SAM sites around Lebanon during the '82 invasion. They used drone decoys carrying radar reflective material to get the SAM crews to turn on their targetting radars. Then, Israeli strike aircraft carrying ARMs would pounce and destroy the transmitters. Subsequent aircraft carrying cluster bombs would then destroy whatever was left.

I didn't think of that. Was it something like a Quail, which B-52s fired ahead of them in Vietnam on bombing missions to decoy radar like SAMs? The Quail was designed to produce the radar signature of a B-52, even though it is only about half the size of the typical cruise missile.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

I didn't think of that. Was it something like a Quail, which B-52s fired ahead of them in Vietnam on bombing missions to decoy radar like SAMs? The Quail was designed to produce the radar signature of a B-52, even though it is only about half the size of the typical cruise missile.

Similar concept but slightly different RPV. IIRC, the Israeli's used ground-launched, prop-powered UAVs a bit smaller than an old VW bug. I'll have to do a little research to find out what kind.