[ladyjane]

Some of us are not familiar with weapons. Could you, someone, explain the range of uses for a surface to air missle? Obviously an airplane could be a target. Could a train be a target? a building? What are the limitations of such weapons?

[null and void]

Basically they'll go for anything hot. A locomotive engine's exhaust is probably hot enough...

[ExSoldier]

MANPAD: Man Portable Surface to Air Missile.

Dang, I gotta shut down; there's a major thunderstorm here. Later folks.

[texasbluebell]

Heat-seeking. So I suppose a train could be targeted too.

I've read various ranges on these -- after TWA 800, there were claims that the plane was too high, but then it was shown that missiles could certainly have gotten it at I think it was 10000 to 12000 feet.

Now there are longer ranges for these things, I believe.

No expert here at all. Just what I've read. Will wait for those who know this stuff.

[ExSoldier]

Okay, to finish, the MANPAD system for say a STINGER missile is designed for the infrared guidance system onboard the missile to lock onto a good heat source and follow that to a proximity distance near the heat (aircraft engine) and then detonate it's fairly small warhead. For a single engine or dual engine fighter, this is tantamount to taking it out of the sky. For a large multi-engine jet like a 747, I'm not certain it would fall from the sky unless the fuel was ignited and resulted in a catastrophic explosion. Those babies can fly missing one or more engines. I'll bet there is a fire suppression system to help with that problem, too. That's why I doubt that such a missile took out TWA FLT 800, at least by itself.

It would do no good to fire the missile at a building or train, even if the train is "hot." Too many other hot objects around to draw it off. Waaaay up there in the cold air, the plane engines will be the ONLY hot object around. Easy lock on. The warhead is not big enough to do much damage to a building.

Those of you who remember the first Rambo movie First Blood will remember the scene which has Rambo "trapped" in an old mine and the national guard is getting read to fire a L.A.W. anti-armor weapon into the opening. The resultant explosion was HUGE and in no way represented the true explosive power of this 66mm weapon. LAW's are only used against thin skinned APC's (Armored Personnel Carriers) and not real tanks. In other words, every weapon has a mission and specific use for which it is designed. Crossing missions and uses is usually not very productive.