"Pilot steered bomb away from houses"
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"Pilot steered bomb away from houses"
I'm not generally very sympathetic to calls of Beadwindow, and to an over-eagerness to censor, but was this really a sensible story to highlight?
Doesn't it provide useful detail about possible RoE, and helpful hints to the enemy as to how they might protect themselves from attack?
And while the story shows that the Allies take extraordinary care to avoid killing innocent civilians, didn't we know that already?
Was there any useful point in telling the story, in other words?
Doesn't it provide useful detail about possible RoE, and helpful hints to the enemy as to how they might protect themselves from attack?
And while the story shows that the Allies take extraordinary care to avoid killing innocent civilians, didn't we know that already?
Was there any useful point in telling the story, in other words?
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Also at; Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Military Operations | VIDEO: RAF pilot avoids civilian casualties in Afghanistan
The ability of RAF pilots in Afghanistan to control the Paveway IV smart bomb and avoid civilian casualties is illustrated in previously classified video footage which has been released today, Wednesday 14 October 2009.
The footage, taken from a Harrier jump jet, shows a bomb dropped from the aircraft heading for a Taliban commander in a vehicle. Just seconds from impact, the vehicle stops next to a civilian compound.
If the bomb had hit its target, several innocent Afghans would have been killed, but the quick-thinking RAF officer is seen to move the bomb into a safe area of desert where it detonates.
The footage, taken from a Harrier jump jet, shows a bomb dropped from the aircraft heading for a Taliban commander in a vehicle. Just seconds from impact, the vehicle stops next to a civilian compound.
If the bomb had hit its target, several innocent Afghans would have been killed, but the quick-thinking RAF officer is seen to move the bomb into a safe area of desert where it detonates.
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
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The previously classified footage
Mind you, I was good at steering my iron bombs away from the actual target
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Ed Macy in Apache went in to considerable detail on weapons selection and guidance to avoid collateral damage but still destroy the target. That was 3 years ago. Without checking I think they used a weapon that was overkill for the target but more controllable.
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I'm not generally very sympathetic to calls of Beadwindow, and to an over-eagerness to censor, but was this really a sensible story to highlight?
Doesn't it provide useful detail about possible RoE, and helpful hints to the enemy as to how they might protect themselves from attack?
Doesn't it provide useful detail about possible RoE, and helpful hints to the enemy as to how they might protect themselves from attack?
It's difficult enough to zero in on these guys in the first place, but to give them a mechanism to 'keep themselves safe' borders on lunacy.
Wasn't it the BBC who told the Argentinians about Sir Galahad and the fusing of the bombs and . . . .
I know, the public has a right to know - sometimes I think a dictatorship has quite a few plus points, sadly out-trumped by the minus ones.
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In case you hadn't noticed, DD... it was the MOD that released the story... including the video.
If you have a beef, take it up with them, not the Beeb.
If you have a beef, take it up with them, not the Beeb.
Hmmm, interesting.
It's difficult to make estimations of scale but using the car and road as units I'd guess impact was about 100 feet away from the civvies. Would certainly make their ears pop. The target was more than 100feet away from the civvies by impact time, wonder why he didn't steer it further away or even follow the target then dump the bomb to the other side of the target when getting into the vinegar strokes?
It's difficult to make estimations of scale but using the car and road as units I'd guess impact was about 100 feet away from the civvies. Would certainly make their ears pop. The target was more than 100feet away from the civvies by impact time, wonder why he didn't steer it further away or even follow the target then dump the bomb to the other side of the target when getting into the vinegar strokes?
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MOD do not have the market cornered in commonsense. I think at the moment they are desperate to grab any headlines to keep the sandy place in a positive light. Personally I think Biggles did a good job, but it should have been kept quiet.
Of course, our Lords and Masters NEVER make ill-advised comment. The BBC may be clear this time (I saw it pedalled by them) but the comments quoted by me still stand regarding FI.
Of course, our Lords and Masters NEVER make ill-advised comment. The BBC may be clear this time (I saw it pedalled by them) but the comments quoted by me still stand regarding FI.
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Doesn't it provide useful detail about possible RoE, and helpful hints to the enemy as to how they might protect themselves from attack?
Hiding amongst civilians is hardly a new taliban tactic for self preservation.
Well done that pilot.
