Darn right......I do believe they will work quite well, as designed.... I just hope that the C3I folks have the intestinal fortitude to authorize release when such a scenario happens. I fear that those in authority will be too micromanaged, and bound by Political Correctness, and fear of lawsuits from the unavoidable collateral damage from the falling bits that they will make the always fatal mistake of "delayed decision"
There simply isn't enough time, given the distances involved, to become involved in a lengthy hand-ringing decision process. If you have a "hostile inbound", one simply has to make "x" number of radio calls, fire "x number of flares, allow a fighter to make a intercept pass, fire some warning shots, and if said "hostile" doesn't immediately do a 180,lower their gear (if said aircraft has retractable gear) and follow the intercept A/C to the designated airport for arrest/impoundment, then one commands "release". and the automatic sequencer takes over from that point. The stakes are too high, and the possible lethal area of munitions which can be carried in even the smallest of aircraft makes necessary a definitive destruct point, without recourse, as far away from the sensitive area as possible. The choice is simple, and one has to revert to common sense and training, and totally ignore polls, public opinion, and "Monday morning quarterbacking".
If someone screws up big time, then, in today's world, there simply is no wiggle room for second guessing, at least that is the way I was trained.
Unfortunately, in the real world of "all news all the time" and "instant polls". and the talking heads spewing nonsense about everything before they know anything, I sincerely doubt that instant, decisive, action is a real fact. I hope I'm wrong, and I see the result of a successful intercept/shootdown, of an actual terrorist threat on the news, to prove to the public that the danger exists, and we can successfully put a period to it.
Thanks for stating the exact view we all should have, and follow...
Keep the Faith for Freedom
Greg
There simply isn't enough time, given the distances involved, to become involved in a ...You also are overlooking the fact that these targets have something called 'legacy' (they've been watched and tracked for awhile); especially the LARGER, faster moving targets (corporate jets, airliners et al) are identified on FAA and Joint Surveillance System (JSS) RADARS ... course and speed and A/C type are identified on consoles - if A/C type is unk the SPEED is the big indicator (Cessna 150's aren't speed demons as many ppl have testified). I suspect faster moving 'straying' traffic draws more attention than something as low and slow as a light, GA, two-seat 150 that could be 'taken down' by a pistol-packing traffic reporter in a helo.
Overall, behind closed doors, a LOT more is known situationally in real time than has even been described on these pages ...