UAVs and Real Warplanes' 'Show of Presence' + Air Drop

choi

(1) CJ Chivers, A Changed Way of War in Afghanistan's Skies; 'Show of presence' with fewer airstrikes. New York Times, Jan 16, 2012 (front page).
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/1 ... ges-in-air-war.html

My comment: Just read the first four paragraphs and views photos.

(2) The Unnoticed Air Power Revolution. Strategy Page, Jan 17, 2012
http://strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20120117.aspx
(air reconnaisance by small UAVs)

Quote: "From the very beginning, the Raven changed the way troops fight. With the bird's eye view of the battlefield, commanders can move their troops more quickly, confident that they won't be ambushed, and often with certain knowledge of where the unseen enemy is.

(3) Vertical Supply Lines In Afghanistan. Strategy Page, Jan 17, 2012.
http://strategypage.com/htmw/htlog/articles/20120117.aspx

Two consecutive paragraphs:

"Air dropped supplies have landed, on average, within 185 meters of the aim point when dropped from higher altitudes. This is often necessary when there is a risk of enemy fire. For that, there are GPS guided pallets that can land within 50 meters of the aim point. So when greater accuracy is needed (or it has to be done at night), a GPS guided parachute rig is used.

"Another problem is the many mountain peaks and ridges. The GPS guided rigs go for the spot on the ground. The GPS sees only a straight line, between where the GPS chute was dropped, and the GPS location down there. There is no way to detect and avoid any mountainous terrain that's in the way.