Washington Post warns Stinger missiles for Ukraine could "slip into the possession of terrorist groups"

twitter ^ | May 15 | ggreenwald

[RandFan]

@ggreenwald

WashPost: "Flood of weapons to Ukraine raises fear of arms smuggling"

"Shoulder-fired Stinger missiles, capable of downing commercial airliners, are just one of the weapon systems experts worry could slip into the possession of terrorist groups."

[Jewbacca]

How will the drug cartels bypass the IFF and geofence restrictions on these Stingers?

[sergeantdave]

“How will the drug cartels bypass the IFF and geofence restrictions on these Stingers?”

You tell me, you’re the expert.

[Jewbacca]

I don’t think they have the technological capability myself.

To the contrary, I think if they acquired an entire MANPAD from the Ukraine and brought it back domestically, they’d have an expensive wall decoration.

[AFreeBird]

But can the IFF fail safe be hacked?

[FtrPilot]

Do commercial airliners squawk IFF?

The short answer is Yes.

Here's some additional information:

IFF is used by both military and civilian aircraft. Modes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are for military use only. Modes 1, 2 and 3/A are collectively known as Selective Identification Feature (SIF) modes.

Civilian aircraft use modes 3/A, C and S. Mode C which includes barometric pressure altitude information is often used in conjunction with mode 3/A.

Mode S is a new civilian mode developed to replace both mode 3/A and C.

SIF modes are used to determine friend or foe.

[Lurker]

Thank you.

L

[sergeantdave]

FYI -

Sinaloa Cartel Sought Anti-Aircraft Missiles

https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/sinaloa-cartel-sought-anti-aircraft-missiles/

Among the weapons they sought were an M47 anti-tank weapon, two AT-4 anti-tank missiles, shoulder-fired light anti-tank rocket, a variety of grenade launchers, two M-60 machine guns and three cases of hand grenades. Perhaps the most formidable weapon on their list, however, was an FIM-92 Stinger, a surface-to-air missile similar to those used by the Taliban in their campaign against the Soviets in the 1980s.

(The above report is from 2011)

Thousands of Libyan missiles from Qaddafi era missing in action

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thousands-of-libyan-missiles-from-qaddafi-era-missing-in-action/

(Libyan report from 2013)

Full List of American War Weapons Lost In Afghanistan

https://www.ammoland.com/2021/12/full-list-of-american-weapons-left-afghanistan/

(Afghan report from 2021)

I’d say we’re looking down a deep, deep rabbit hole filled with interesting stuff that goes bang!

[Jewbacca]

Be a lot easier to make a foe look like a friend with a stolen transponder.

But, yeah, I am sure someone could spoof/bypass the GPS and IFF somehow with enough time. Might be easier to go build your own missile, though.

[Jewbacca]

They probably don’t know about the fail safes. It’s not exactly public knowledge.

In fact, I wasn’t sure if it was secret or not, so I found the manual on-line before posting, which openly discusses what I talked about, so I guess not.

And in fairness, the clever computer controls didn’t become a reality until 20 years after Stingers entered service (and ARE optional on domestic Stingers). So I’m sure they are plenty floating around somewhere.

Just not the ones going to Ukraine.

There is about $37 billion/$40B that is disgusting pork and corruption going to the Ukraine. The Stingers, however, are just fine and are probably a couple million.

[Jewbacca]

A friend just reminded me of an unintentional safeguard — the software has to be updated pretty regularly or it stops working.

So if an arrow goes missing for a year or so, it becomes a paperweight.

It’s almost like rocket scientists are smart or something and thought all this out.

[Lurker]

I did not know that.

Thanks.

L