Saddam may have missing Stealth-detecting radar systems

World Tribune ^ | 1/14/02

[truthandlife]

U.S. officials say Iraq may have acquired two Tamara radar systems which have been reported missing in the Czech Republic.

The officials said the regime of President Saddam Hussein has been conducting negotiations with companies in Eastern Europe to procure a system that could detect and respond to U.S. stealth bombers, such as the B-2 F-117. The F-117 and the B-2 have been used by the United States in Afghanistan.

The Bush administration is concerned that Baghdad might have smuggled a radar system from Eastern Europe in what could mark a surprise in any U.S. military campaign against Iraq. Officials said Iraq nearly bought a $300 million radar system from the Czech Republic in 1997. The deal was blocked by the government in Prague.

U.S. officials said the Pentagon has assessed that Iraq has gained new anti-aircraft capabilities. They said this includes the ability to detect and shoot down U.S. and British aircraft. The officials said Washington has instituted changes in electronic warfare systems to better protect its aircraft.

Last week, the London-based Sunday Telegraph reported that two Tamara radar systems sought by Iraq earlier have gone missing. The newspaper said the radars — manufactured by the defunct Czech firm Tesla-Pardubice — might have been acquired by Iraq.

Over the weekend, Saddam met his military chiefs and urged them to bolster defenses against enemy attack. The president also called on his military to forge cooperation with Baghdad's allies in the Arab world.

[hchutch]

Oh, crap. Well, looks like we program some HARMs for that site, THEN send the F-117s and B-2s in.

[Bryan24]

If they can be detected, they would no longer be called "Stealth" bombers.

It is my understanding that the shape of the object determines is reflectivity. How will this radar system pick up the planes?

[veryconernedamerican]

this was already posted.

[truthandlife]

I am sorry. I put in the search and it did not come up.

[DJ88]

More to the point, where did they get $300 million??? I thought everyone over there was starving to death???

[isom35]

are the Romulans now aiding saddam?

[ChinaThreat]

It is a system that is not truely radar, but a passive system built on microwave detection technology. It looks at the sky and looks for any interruptions in microwave transmissions. Think of it as looking at a canvas, and any blemishes on the canvas would indicate an object. Many experts think the Yugoslavs used this and that is how they were able to shoot the Stealth fighter down in the Kosovo conflict.

[Bryan24]

Now we know WHY their starving to death. We need to do the world a favor and just go kill Saddam.

[Cachelot]

I thought everyone over there was starving to death???

Only some of them. Saddam's court actually needs, and have purchased, several liposuction machines.

[Bryan24]

I can think of a couple of ways to spoof that, and I'm not even a radar specialist or a military planner.

I'm willing to bet that the F-117 that got hit in Kosovo was visually sighted and then brought down.

[DJ88]

Yeah, I agree. Just for the fun of it. :-)

[ChinaThreat]

Like I said, its not radar and its passive, so you can't tell if they are using it or not. The only possible recourse to a system like this is overwhelming microwave sensors which can be very dangerous for everyone around including the ones jamming. But never say never right.

[DJ88]

This is true. What a farce.

[flamefront]

Of interest a related article with more detail was posted in the UK Telegraph recently, though.

6 Jan 2002: US fears Iraq radar can see stealth plane

[LenS]

This is why our assault on Iraq should begin and end with ICBM's. Let Iraq deal with tracking them and enjoying the benefits of nuclear fusion up close. Heck, close isn't really that crucial when you're dealing with megatons.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Hey, Ada!!!

How big a water purification plant could they have bought on the black market??

[Blood of Tyrants]

The system works by detecting minute disturbances in tv and radio waves as an object passes through the air. This makes it passive, i.e. no electromagnetic emissions and therefore VERY hard to find and destroy.

[Blood of Tyrants]

My personal opinion is that it was a similar system developed by the Chinese that brought down our F-117. Thus the reason for the "accidental" bombing of the Chinese embassy a few days later.

[Aric2000]

I gotta go with you on this one. Baghdad won't be a problem after that, and it doesn't matter how many doubles saddam has!! Nuke 'em til they glow!!! Then we go in and take the oil for ourselves!!