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Article: Old but good. (low-tech weapon systems that also worked well in the Gulf war)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- March 9, 1991
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1991 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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MILITARY analysts, professional and armchair, are busy learning the lessons of the Gulf war. On top of the astounding successes of Patriot missiles, laser-guided bombs and see-in-the-dark Apache helicopters, several low-tech devices did sterling work too. Many of them are destined for the boneyard. Here are a few old systems that could be worth keeping.
* The B-52 bomber, known universally in the American air force as the BUF (big ugly fellow, or thereabouts). It was designed more than 40 years ago to haul hydrogen bombs to the Soviet Union. Each aircraft can dump 30 tons or more of conventional bombs. Its successor, the B-1, was "sold" to Congress as ...