Henry Wong Ajay Saini Didier Tshimbalanga Smart Weapons Henry Wong Ajay Saini Didier Tshimbalanga

Some Numbers 2003 US defense budget: $379 billion $10 Billion to fight terrorism $7.8 Billion to missile defense $5.5 Billion to smart weapons 2001 Senegal’s defense budget: $5 million

Overview Background What is a smart weapon? History Arguments for smart weapons Types of smart weapons Arguments Against Future Technology related questions

What is a Smart Weapon Missile or bomb equipped with a laser or television guidance system Smart weapon extensions include: Off-road mines that listen for vehicles and attack Missiles that fire at a target by space intelligence gathering

Brief History

Early Development 1200’s Chines use unguided rockets for fireworks 1800’s Congreve developed unguided rocket-powered missiles WWI: France makes limited use of unguided rockets

First Guided Missiles WWI: US uses 1st pilotless airplanes (guided by remote control) 1924: Pilotless airplanes (guided by radio control) WWII: Germany develops 1st guide missile used in combat (V-1 & V-2)

Postwar Development US and USSR begin missile development race 1950’s: US and USSR test 1st intercontinental ballistic missiles 1960’s: US and USSR develop antiballistic missiles 1968: US uses first laser guided bomb

Postwar Development cont’d May 26, 1972: ABM treaty signed Reduces the number of ABM deployment areas from two to one Specified deployment area as well 1980’s: Sharp reduction in missile arsenal 2002: US walks out of the treaty (New arms race?)

Arguments for Continuing Smart Weapon Development

Strategic Better communication and cohesion among troops Better intelligence information Surgical operations: No need for full scale operations, which are expensive Speed: rapid transportation to anywhere Efficiency: less supervision Safety: less soldiers lost Accuracy: human errors eliminated

Economic Economic Stimulus: Government investment in weapon development New jobs created to support increased military spending

Technology Investment in new technologies Cross Application: Military technology can be applied to medical science, and energy

Social Less casualties (military and civilian): accurate weapons Deterrent for conflict or war Short wars: minimal human and economic costs Imperative because of declining “draftable” population

Types of Smart Weapons Ajay Saini

Types Missiles Guided Bombs Laser guided TV/IR guided GPS guided Other Targeting pods

Missiles: AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) Mission Close air support, interdiction, amphibious strike and anti-surface warfare Low cost, highly lethal glide weapon 13 feet in length, 1000 - 1500 pounds 3 versions

Missiles: AGM-154 Uses a tightly coupled GPS and INS Capable of working in any conditions Low altitude launch range of 15 nautical miles (1nm = 2km) High altitude launch range of 40 nautical miles

Missiles: AGM-154

Laser Guided Bombs Guided bomb unit-24 (GBU-24) Mission Close air support, interdiction, offensive counter air, naval anti-surface warfare 2 primary versions Designed in response to sophisticated enemy air defenses and poor visibility

Laser Guided Bombs “Man in the loop” Operator illuminates a target, munitions guide to a spot of laser energy Designed for a low altitude delivery Range greater than 10 nautical miles

Laser Guided Bombs Production Cost: $729,14 million Production Unit Cost: $55,600 Quantity: 13,114

TV/IR Bombs Guided bomb unit-15 (GBU-15) Mission Offensive counter air, close air support, interdiction, navel anti-surface warfare Unpowered glide weapon 2 primary versions TV Electro-optical Imaging infrared Seeker

TV/IR Bombs Directed either by a TV camera or infrared, generated on the nose Automatic or Manual guided delivery Range greater than 5 nautical miles 2 forms of attack Direct Indirect

TV/IR Bombs Acquisition cost: $774.5 million Acquisition unit cost: $274,354 Quantity: 2,823

GPS Bombs Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Mission Close air support, interdiction, offensive counter air, suppression of enemy’s air defense, naval anti-surface warfare, amphibious strike All weather, autonomous weapon many versions, 2 variants 2000 pounds

GPS Bombs Tightly coupled GPS and INS Mission plans loaded prior to takeoff Range of 5 to 15 nautical miles Capable of being launched in numerous ways Able to counter GPS jamming

GPS Bombs Total cost: $4.65 billion Acquisition unit cost: $ 62,846 Quantity: 79,000

Other Guided Bombs Wind Corrected Munition Dispenser (WCMD) Designed as one solution to four deficiencies multiple kills per pass adverse weather capability cluster bomb accuracy ability to carry future submunitions

Other Guided Bombs Not GPS Aids medium and high altitude weapon employment $25,000 per unit; 40,000 units Total cost $1 billion

Targeting Pods Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) Consists of a navigation pod and a targeting pod Aids in combat effectiveness 2 variations Navigation pod $1.38 million Targeting pod $3.2 million

Arguments Against Smart Weapons and Questions Henry Wong

Problem 1: Errors Smart Weapons require smarter, complex software Design must be bug free Human errors always present Smoke and clouds also contribute All lead to dumb smart bombs

Examples of Errors 1999 NATO bombers struck a graveyard, bus station, and children’s basketball court During attacks in Afghanistan, an office funded by the UN was destroyed Office was 900 feet away from the target Bombs are supposed to be within 50 feet.

Problem 2: Combat Ability Smart Weapons allow input but are self guided Soldiers becoming increasingly dependent of self guided systems Too much reliance? Forget how to use conventional weapons?

Problem 3: Cost and Complexity Reliable Smart Weapon is extremely difficult and complicated Technology development needed? Can they be cheaply mass produced? Cost too much, even for military

Future of Smart Weapons Unmanned Weapons and Autonomous Weapons

Current Technology ALV - Autonomous Land Vehicles Designed to navigate over terrain without human input Useful in unknown territory UAV - Unmanned Air Vehicles Small, lightweight, fly without operator control Designed to search for its own target

Current Technology cont’d Aegis System Designed as a total weapon system Advanced automatic detect and track system Phalanx System Defense against anti ship missiles Numerous intelligent functions

Future Goals Future Smart Weapons must be able to: Identify (possible) threats/targets Determine what course of action to take when the target is identified Aim, fire, and reload all on its own Unmanned and Autonomous Weapons??

Technology Related Questions

1. How Smart is too Smart? AI? Machines take over the world?

2. Unanticipated Consequences How might this be used? Alternative paths? Smart guns for consumers? Unmanned lawnmowers? Unmanned school buses?

3. Social Impact Do smart weapons lead to a more or less stable society? How will they effect political decisions and stability?

4. Economic How to justify costs to develop? How do they effect economic stability?