DOCSLIB.ORG

IMINT) Is a Valued and and Early Rockets, but Without Much Success

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
IMINT) Is a Valued and and Early Rockets, but Without Much Success From AFIO's The Intelligencer Association of Former Intelligence Officers Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies 6723 Whittier Avenue, Suite 200 Volume 18 • Number 2 • $15 single copy price Winter/Spring 2011 McLean, Virginia 22101 © 2011 AFIO - Association of Former Intelligence Officers, All Rights Reserved. Web: www.afio.com, E-mail: [email protected] record the positions of enemy combatants. Pioneering photographer Matthew Brady created an important historical record of the American Civil War with his photographs. Manned balloons were used during the Civil War to observe enemy positions and activities, and on at least one occasion, photographs obtained from a balloon vantage point were used to support Guide to military operations. The need for relatively long expo- sure times to take 1860s vintage photographs caused Imagery Intelligence blurring because of balloon motion and limited the utility of these early intelligence products. Experi- Robert E. Dupré ments continued through the late 1880s in places like Germany with photographs taken from balloons, kites Imagery intelligence (or IMINT) is a valued and and early rockets, but without much success. often essential element of the entire intelligence pic- The advance of camera and film technology ture. A perusal of the U.S. Intelligence Community (smaller cameras, shorter exposure times, more effi- website at http://www.intelligence.gov provides an insight cient lenses), when tied to the invention of the aircraft, into its importance and displays where imagery fits created the opportunity for true imagery support for into the overall intelligence picture. Imagery can take intelligence and military operations. A brief history many forms with the most well-known being conven- of the first aerial observation activity of World War tional film (e.g., 35 mm camera), electro-optical (e.g., I may be found in the Aviation History area of www. digital camera) and video (e.g., camcorder). More pilotfriend.com. Additional information may be found esoteric imagery forms are also of intelligence use and in Shooting the Front which is listed in the bibliography. examples of such are infrared photography and radar imagery. Regardless of type, images are interpreted (analyzed) by trained imagery experts to yield useful IMINT IN WORLD WARS ONE intelligence data. AND TWO In the United States, analysis of intelligence imagery is conducted at centers such as the National The primary use of aerial photography in WWI Geospatial Intelligence Agency, in Bethesda, Maryland was to support front line tactical operations. As the (https://www1.nga.mil), or at the National Air and Space sophistication of both aircraft and photography Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base increased it became possible to expand the usefulness in Dayton, Ohio (http://www.afisr.af.mil/units/nasic/index. of aerial photography. Longer range aircraft, aircraft asp). These facilities are key elements in photographic dedicated to photographic missions, more capable analysis supporting U.S. government operations. cameras, and trained photo interpreters combined to allow aerial photography to broaden in application. It became possible to collect information that served BRIEF HISTORY OF IMINT longer-range analyses of an adversary’s future plan. Information about factories, shipyards, harbors, air- The use of imagery for intelligence applications fields, etc. could be used for both near-term targeting has a long and rich history. Prior to the invention and long-term strategic planning. of photography, scouts would deliver tales of their In WWII, even low technology efforts yielded observations to military commanders. They would useful intelligence imagery data when photographs, perhaps draw pictures and maps in the dirt to illustrate known as Aunt Minnies, taken by commercial pho- that which they had observed. They would use word tographers, journalists, or tourists, showed areas of pictures to convey information but the military com- interest or intelligence targets. These were mostly mander would always have to create a mind picture ground-level photos made available to an intelligence of the scout’s descriptions. This all began to change agency of a location of particular interest. They were with the advent of photography in the 1830s. This new called Aunt Minnies because someone’s aunt (or invention was used to document battles and occasion- grandmother, etc.) was often in the photos along with ally to view an enemy’s positions from high ground to the location of interest. During WWII, the Office of Strategic Services (predecessor of the CIA) checked Winter/Spring 2011 Intelligencer: Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies Page 61 thousands of antique shops for Aunt Minnie postcards in the Sky, Corona: America’s First Satellite Program, and in addition to checking magazine publisher’s files to The Wizards of Langley. discover photos of interest areas. The use of spacecraft to obtain imagery from The Second World War also saw vast techno- denied areas eliminated the danger of attack on logical advances in the use of photography to support airborne systems but created a much more complex, military applications and featured the conversion of costly, and less flexible collection system. Space- various combat aircraft, such as the B-17 or British craft are restricted to very predictable and not easily Mosquito, for use as aerial photographic recon- changed orbits. One can initially optimize an orbit to naissance platforms. The book, Evidence in Camera, maximize coverage (daytime passage over an area of describes the WWII use of aerial reconnaissance from interest, for example), but changing the spacecraft’s the British perspective. Many of the histories of WWII orbit to accommodate a different threat is extremely devote sections to the aerial collection of photography difficult, or in some cases impossible, because of the and the military successes resulting from the data. laws of physics. An aircraft can maneuver or delay its The Korean War brought the development of spe- departure in response to bad weather, but a spacecraft cialized aircraft, which were specifically designed for is restricted to its pre-determined orbital path. Also, the collection of photography. An example would be many a photograph taken from space has shown noth- the RF-80, a variant of the F-80 Shooting Star Fighter/ ing but cloud cover or has had a cloud obscuring the Bomber. Previously, fighter or bomber aircraft had target of interest. Early space photographs also suf- only been modified to serve a photo collection role fered from poor quality compared to aircraft coverage, rather than being initially designed for that purpose. but advancing technology has skillfully addressed and resolved that issue. Details about the types of satellites used and their operations may be found in the book THE COLD WAR YEARS Deep Black. During the Cold War, the buildup of Soviet strate- gic capability drove U.S. intelligence collection needs THE MODERN ERA OF UAVS AND SAR and resulted in the development of strategic platforms such as the U-2 and the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft. By the 1990s, new systems had been developed These high altitude, manned collection platforms were that improved photographic intelligence. Electro- specifically designed to provide access to denied terri- optic sensors (think digital cameras) entered into tory primarily for photographic collection. Developed common use. The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in secrecy, the U-2 was used to obtain information was developed and could send video in real time back about the emerging Soviet strategic systems. President to battlefield commanders, who could then observe Eisenhower proposed in 1955 an “Open Skies” policy an engagement in progress. By the time of the second for the world where arms agreements could be verified Gulf War, the Predator UAV was outfitted with ordi- by mutual inspection. When this policy was rejected by nance (Hellfire missiles) and was capable of not only the Soviet Union, U-2 over-flights of the Soviet Union observing action but of attacking targets of oppor- were initiated beginning in 1956. The loss of one of tunity. The development of synthetic aperture radar these aircraft over the Soviet Union in 1960 created an (SAR) imagery now allows surveillance of targets of international incident. That story is told by the pilot, interest at night and through clouds. SAR images can Francis Gary Powers, in his book Operation Overflight. reveal to imagery interpreters intelligence not avail- The U-2 aircraft also played a prominent role in able in conventional images. the Cuban Missile Crisis. The more capable SR-71, The 1990s also witnessed the growth of inter- originally developed as the A-12 under a CIA program national and commercial satellite imaging. While (see “Archangel: CIA’s Supersonic A-12 Reconnaissance Air- the former Soviet Union had maintained a robust craft” in the bibliography) reached operational capa- Cosmos imagery program, the first civil imagery sat- bility in the 1960s and was used during the Viet Nam ellite, Landsat, was launched in 1972, and the French War and in other areas of the world to collect valuable launched their SPOT remote sensing satellite in 1986. imagery until its retirement in the 1990s. The first of the privately funded earth imaging satel- The development of space-borne photographic lites was launched in 1999. Ikonos was managed by collection systems is documented in texts such as Eye Space Imaging, Inc., a spin-off of Lockheed, a com- Page 62 Intelligencer: Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies Winter/Spring 2011 pany well-versed in imagery thinker, Sun Tzu, wrote a treatise on war in which he systems. By 2003, competi- said: “If you know the enemy and know yourself you tor imagery satellite systems need not fear a hundred battles. If you know yourself had been orbited (QuickBird and not the enemy, for every victory you will suffer a and OrbView), one (EROS-A1) defeat. If you know neither yourself nor the enemy, you by an Israeli are a fool and will meet defeat in every battle.” Imagery c o m p a n y .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • AIR POWER History / WINTER 2015 from the Editor
    WINTER 2015 - Volume 62, Number 4 WWW.AFHISTORICALFOUNDATION.ORG The Air Force Historical Foundation Founded on May 27, 1953 by Gen Carl A. “Tooey” Spaatz MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS and other air power pioneers, the Air Force Historical All members receive our exciting and informative Foundation (AFHF) is a nonprofi t tax exempt organization. Air Power History Journal, either electronically or It is dedicated to the preservation, perpetuation and on paper, covering: all aspects of aerospace history appropriate publication of the history and traditions of American aviation, with emphasis on the U.S. Air Force, its • Chronicles the great campaigns and predecessor organizations, and the men and women whose the great leaders lives and dreams were devoted to fl ight. The Foundation • Eyewitness accounts and historical articles serves all components of the United States Air Force— Active, Reserve and Air National Guard. • In depth resources to museums and activities, to keep members connected to the latest and AFHF strives to make available to the public and greatest events. today’s government planners and decision makers information that is relevant and informative about Preserve the legacy, stay connected: all aspects of air and space power. By doing so, the • Membership helps preserve the legacy of current Foundation hopes to assure the nation profi ts from past and future US air force personnel. experiences as it helps keep the U.S. Air Force the most modern and effective military force in the world. • Provides reliable and accurate accounts of historical events. The Foundation’s four primary activities include a quarterly journal Air Power History, a book program, a • Establish connections between generations.
    [Show full text]
  • Overhead Surveillance
    Confrontation or Collaboration? Congress and the Intelligence Community Overhead Surveillance Eric Rosenbach and Aki J. Peritz Overhead Surveillance One of the primary methods the U.S. uses to gather vital national security information is through air- and space-based platforms, collectively known as “overhead surveillance.” This memorandum provides an overview of overhead surveillance systems, the agencies involved in gathering and analyzing overhead surveillance, and the costs and benefits of this form of intelligence collection. What is Overhead Surveillance? “Overhead surveillance” describes a means to gather information about people and places from above the Earth’s surface. These collection systems gather imagery intelligence (IMINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT) and measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT). Today, overhead surveillance includes: • Space-based systems, such as satellites. • Aerial collection platforms that range from large manned aircraft to small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A Brief History of Overhead Surveillance Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, collectively known as ISR, date back to the 1790s when the French military used observation balloons to oversee battlefields and gain tactical advantage over their adversaries. Almost all WWI and WWII belligerents used aerial surveillance to gain intelligence on enemy lines, fortifications and troop movements. Following WWII, the U.S. further refined airborne and space-based reconnaissance platforms for use against the Soviet Union. Manned reconnaissance missions, however, were risky and could lead to potentially embarrassing outcomes; the 1960 U-2 incident was perhaps the most widely publicized case of the risks associated with this form of airborne surveillance. Since the end of the Cold War, overhead surveillance technology has evolved significantly, greatly expanding the amount of information that the policymaker and the warfighter can use to make critical, time-sensitive decisions.
    [Show full text]
  • Aerial Survellance-Reconnaisance Field Army
    <3 # / FM 30-20 DEP/KRTMENT OF THE ARMY FIELD MANUAL SURVEILLANCE NAISSANCE ARMY ^SHINGTONXC K1££ orti HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT DiF THE ARMY APRIL 1969 TAGO 7075A # 9 * *FM 30-20 FIELD MANUAL HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY No. 30-20 WASHINGTON, D.C., 25 April 1969 AERIAL SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE, FIELD ARMY Paragraph Page CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1-1—1-4 1-1 2. G2 AIR ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS Section I. Organization 2-1 2-1 2-1 II. Functions 2-3, 3-4 2-1 CHAPTER 3. CONCEPT OF AERIAL SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE EMPLOYMENT 3-1—3-6 3-1 4. AERIAL SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAIS- SANCE MISSIONS Section I. Type missions 4_i 4_g 4-1 II. Collection means 4_7_4_n 4-2 CHAPTER 5. AERIAL SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAIS- SANCE PLANNING, OPERATIONS, AND COORDINATION Section I. General planning 5-1—5-5 5-1 II. Specific planning 5-6, 5-7 5-4 III. Request prccedures 5-8—5-10 5- 6 IV. Aircraft and sensor capabilities 5-11,5-12 5-10 V. Operational aids 5-13—5-26 5-12 VI. Coordination 5-27—5-30 5-21 CHAPTER 6. COMMUNICATIONS 6-1—6-5 6- 1 7. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BATTALION, AIR RECONNAISSANCE SUPPORT, FIELD ARMY Section I. Mission, organization, and functions •_ 7-1—7-3 7-1 II. Concept of employment 7_4 7_g 7-3 III. Planning and operations _ 7_9, 7-10 7-5 CHAPTER 8. AVIATION AERIAL SURVEILLANCE COMPANY Section I. Mission, organization, capabilities, and limitations __ g_i g-6 8-1 II. Command, control, and communication g_7 8-10 8-4 III.
    [Show full text]
  • National Reconnaissance Office Review and Redaction Guide
    NRO Approved for Release 16 Dec 2010 —Tep-nm.T7ymqtmthitmemf- (u) National Reconnaissance Office Review and Redaction Guide For Automatic Declassification Of 25-Year-Old Information Version 1.0 2008 Edition Approved: Scott F. Large Director DECL ON: 25x1, 20590201 DRV FROM: NRO Classification Guide 6.0, 20 May 2005 NRO Approved for Release 16 Dec 2010 (U) Table of Contents (U) Preface (U) Background 1 (U) General Methodology 2 (U) File Series Exemptions 4 (U) Continued Exemption from Declassification 4 1. (U) Reveal Information that Involves the Application of Intelligence Sources and Methods (25X1) 6 1.1 (U) Document Administration 7 1.2 (U) About the National Reconnaissance Program (NRP) 10 1.2.1 (U) Fact of Satellite Reconnaissance 10 1.2.2 (U) National Reconnaissance Program Information 12 1.2.3 (U) Organizational Relationships 16 1.2.3.1. (U) SAF/SS 16 1.2.3.2. (U) SAF/SP (Program A) 18 1.2.3.3. (U) CIA (Program B) 18 1.2.3.4. (U) Navy (Program C) 19 1.2.3.5. (U) CIA/Air Force (Program D) 19 1.2.3.6. (U) Defense Recon Support Program (DRSP/DSRP) 19 1.3 (U) Satellite Imagery (IMINT) Systems 21 1.3.1 (U) Imagery System Information 21 1.3.2 (U) Non-Operational IMINT Systems 25 1.3.3 (U) Current and Future IMINT Operational Systems 32 1.3.4 (U) Meteorological Forecasting 33 1.3.5 (U) IMINT System Ground Operations 34 1.4 (U) Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Systems 36 1.4.1 (U) Signals Intelligence System Information 36 1.4.2 (U) Non-Operational SIGINT Systems 38 1.4.3 (U) Current and Future SIGINT Operational Systems 40 1.4.4 (U) SIGINT
    [Show full text]
  • Aerial Reconnaissance (Pennsylvania Military Museum, T
    PMM BLOG ARCHIVE December 16, 2020 Aerial Reconnaissance (Pennsylvania Military Museum, T. Gum, Site Admin.) Even though the Korean War had come to a standstill a new form of warfare was being lit off between the United States and the USSR. To remain ahead of the curve, the ability to deliver substantial payloads of ordinance and conduct aerial reconnaissance was critical. The history of the B-47 is relatively well known, and on this day in history (17 DEC 1947) it completed its first flight. The related, and subsequent, iterations of this six-engine subsonic long-range flyer are perhaps lesser known by the general public; the “B” standing for bomber/bombing and others based on this platform carrying various lettering respective to design or purpose. DAYTON, Ohio -- Boeing RB-47H at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo) The RB-47H being a (r)econnaissance outfitting of the B-47E platform, was a crucial option when dealing with an adversary well accomplished in deception and misinformation. The role played was quite simple – gather intelligence on the size, location, and capability of the Russian air defense and radar networks. From 1955 to the mid 1960s the RB-47H filled this role until being replaced by the RC-135… arguably a more capable option. The RB-47H was capable of long range missions due to it’s base-design, and successfully operated out of countless airfields and bases. The positioning of these airfields of course played a strategic role in staging and coordinating defensive measures when an RB was intercepted.
    [Show full text]
  • Preserving Ukraine's Independence, Resisting Russian Aggression
    Preserving Ukraine’s Independence, Resisting Russian Aggression: What the United States and NATO Must Do Ivo Daalder, Michele Flournoy, John Herbst, Jan Lodal, Steven Pifer, James Stavridis, Strobe Talbott and Charles Wald © 2015 The Atlantic Council of the United States. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the Atlantic Council, except in the case of brief quotations in news articles, critical articles, or reviews. Please direct inquiries to: Atlantic Council 1030 15th Street, NW, 12th Floor Washington, DC 20005 ISBN: 978-1-61977-471-1 Publication design: Krystal Ferguson; Cover photo credit: Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili This report is written and published in accordance with the Atlantic Council Policy on Intellectual Independence. The authors are solely responsible for its analysis and recommendations. The Atlantic Council, the Brookings Institution, and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and their funders do not determine, nor do they necessarily endorse or advocate for, any of this report’s conclusions. February 2015 PREFACE This report is the result of collaboration among the Donbas provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. scholars and former practitioners from the A stronger Ukrainian military, with enhanced Atlantic Council, the Brookings Institution, the defensive capabilities, will increase the pros- Center for a New American Security, and the pects for negotiation of a peaceful settlement. Chicago Council on Global Affairs. It is informed When combined with continued robust Western by and reflects mid-January discussions with economic sanctions, significant military assis- senior NATO and U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • SPRING 2015 - Volume 62, Number 1 Call for Papers Violent Skies: the Air War Over Vietnam a Symposium Proposed for October 2015
    SPRING 2015 - Volume 62, Number 1 WWW.AFHISTORICALFOUNDATION.ORG Call For Papers Violent Skies: The Air War Over Vietnam A Symposium Proposed for October 2015 Four military service historical foundations—the Air Force Historical Foundation, the Army Historical Foundation, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, and the Naval Historical Foundation—recognize that a half century has passed since the United States became militarily engaged in Southeast Asia, and hope to sponsor a series of conferences involving scholars and veterans, aimed at exploring aspects and conse- quences of what once was known as America’s Longest War. For the first conference in the series, since all military services employed their combat aircraft capabilities in that conflict, the leaders of the four nonprofit organizations agree that the air war over Southeast Asia offers a compelling joint topic for reflective examination and discus- sion. The intent is to host a symposium on this subject in the national capital region on Thurs- day and Friday, October 15 and 16, 2015, potentially extending into Saturday, October 17. Other stakeholder organizations will be approached to join as co-sponsors of this event. The organizers of the symposium envision plenary and concurrent sessions to accommodate a wide va- riety of topics and issues. Panel participants will be allotted 20 minutes to present their research or discuss their experiences. A panel chair will be assigned to provide commentary and moderate discussion. Com- menters from academia, veterans, Vietnamese émigrés, and scholars from the region may be invited to pro- vide additional insights. Panel/Paper proposals may employ both chronological and topical approaches: Examples of chronological subjects can include: U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Trying to Break New Ground in Aerial Archaeology
    remote sensing Opinion Trying to Break New Ground in Aerial Archaeology Geert Verhoeven 1,* and Christopher Sevara 2 1 Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection & Virtual Archaeology (LBI ArchPro), Franz-Klein-Gasse 1/III, Wien A-1190, Austria 2 Department of Prehistoric and Historical Archaeology, University of Vienna, Franz-Klein-Gasse 1/III, Wien A-1190, Austria; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +43-699-1520-6509 Academic Editors: Kenneth L. Kvamme and Prasad S. Thenkabail Received: 24 August 2016; Accepted: 26 October 2016; Published: 4 November 2016 Abstract: Aerial reconnaissance continues to be a vital tool for landscape-oriented archaeological research. Although a variety of remote sensing platforms operate within the earth’s atmosphere, the majority of aerial archaeological information is still derived from oblique photographs collected during observer-directed reconnaissance flights, a prospection approach which has dominated archaeological aerial survey for the past century. The resulting highly biased imagery is generally catalogued in sub-optimal (spatial) databases, if at all, after which a small selection of images is orthorectified and interpreted. For decades, this has been the standard approach. Although many innovations, including digital cameras, inertial units, photogrammetry and computer vision algorithms, geographic(al) information systems and computing power have emerged, their potential has not yet been fully exploited in order to re-invent
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of Airborne Remote Sensing 1783-1950
    EVOLUTIONEVOLUTION OFOF AIRBORNEAIRBORNE REMOTEREMOTE SENSINGSENSING 17831783--19501950 ProfessorProfessor CharlesCharles dede RozierRozier andand hishis brotherbrother PilatrePilatre succeededsucceeded inin launchinglaunching aa hydrogenhydrogen filledfilled balloonballoon fromfrom TuileriesTuileries,, FranceFrance inin SeptemberSeptember 17831783 44 hourhour flightflight coveredcovered 6363 kmkm HenriHenri GiffardGiffard employedemployed thethe firstfirst poweredpowered airshipairship inin 18531853 usingusing aa 33 horsepowerhorsepower steamsteam engine.engine. ItIt achievedachieved aa speedspeed ofof betweenbetween 6.56.5 andand 1010 feetfeet perper secondsecond inin calmcalm weatherweather Credit for the first aerial photograph goes to French author and artist Felix Tournachon who used the nom de plume Nadar. He captured the first aerial photo from a balloon tethered over the Bievre Valley in 1858. The oldest extant aerial photograph is this view of Boston by James Wallace Black in 1860, made from a captive balloon. ProfessorProfessor T.S.C.T.S.C. LoweLowe usedused hothot airair balloonsballoons toto makemake aerialaerial reconnaissancereconnaissance ofof ConfederateConfederate positionspositions forfor UnionUnion forcesforces duringduring thethe PeninsulaPeninsula CampaignCampaign inin 1862.1862. The heliograph was invented in Great Britain in 1865 for transmitting messages by mirror, using Morse Code The US Army began using heliographs for signaling in 1877 during the Indian Wars, under BGEN Nelson A. Miles, and enjoyed
    [Show full text]
  • The Law of Air Warfare
    The Law of Air Warfare by Javier Guisandez Gomez Hostile aerial action Under aerospace doctrine an aerial action is a set of aerial sorties of the same nature which take place simultaneously in pursuit of a common aim. In other words, an action of this type would attain the objective pursued if it involved two or more aircraft engaging in any of a range of operations, namely attacks, reconnaissance, transportation and special aerial missions. The possible situations in which aerial actions may take place range from peacetime to warfare, including all the intermediate stages. It may therefore be said that when aerial action is described as hostile, it is because it is actually carrying out or intended to carry out acts that have a single common characteristic, that is, violence. In this context, violence must be understood as acts which are com- mitted without the consent of the affected group or country and which therefore constitute a violation of the rights or the status of other com- munities or nations. It is important to clarify this point, as otherwise hostile Francisco Javier Guisandez Gomez is a colonel in the Spanish Air Force and heads the Tactics and Doctrine Department at the Air Force Academy in Madrid. Colonel Guisandez Gomez teaches the law of war at the Academy, at the Madrid Centre for the Study of International Humanitarian Law, at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy, and also as an instructor for the ICRC in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Original: Spanish 347 INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF THE RED CROSS aerial action would cover only aerial attack missions, while those involv- ing transportation or reconnaissance and special missions, and also electronic warfare, in-flight refuelling and so on, would not be classified as hostile action.
    [Show full text]
  • Documentation and Analysis of Archaeological Sites Using Aerial Reconnaissance and Airborne Laser Scanning
    XXI International CIPA Symposium, 01-06 October, Athens, Greece DOCUMENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES USING AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE AND AIRBORNE LASER SCANNING Michael Doneusa, Christian Brieseb, Martin Feraa, Ulrike Fornwagnera, Monika Griebla, Martin Jannera, Maria-Christina Zingerlea a Department of Prehistoric and Mediaeval Archaeology of the University of Vienna, Austria b Christian Doppler Laboratory for Spatial Data from Laser Scanning and Remote Sensing, Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing of the Vienna University of Technology, Austria KEY WORDS: Archaeology, GIS, 3D Aerial archaeology, ALS, Archaeological prospection ABSTRACT For the last 4 years, an area covering 700 km2 along the river Leitha 30 km southeast of Vienna has been investigated in two research projects. This paper presents the preliminary results and tries to demonstrate the potential of an integrated approach using aerial reconnaissance, targeted field walking, and ALS, and shows the high-quality information that can be gathered using new photogrammetric techniques applicable even in forested areas. It is argued that only an integration of different prospection methods will enable effective heritage management. 1. INTRODUCTION archaeological structures and features within that area. Our cultural heritage is under constant threat. Since its Because of the limitations of aerial archaeology over General Assembly in Mexico in 1999, the International forested parts of the project area, a second project was Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is running the started in 2006 to test the applicability of airborne laser Heritage @ Risk program. According to its website, this scanning (ALS) for archaeological reconnaissance in program tries to identify threatened heritage. It presents woodland. typical case studies and tries to develop suggestions for This paper presents the preliminary results and tries to solving problems related to all kinds of threats to our cultural demonstrate the potential of an integrated approach using heritage.
    [Show full text]
  • Gallery of USAF Weapons Note: Inventory Numbers Are Total Active Inventory Figures As of Sept
    Gallery of USAF Weapons Note: Inventory numbers are total active inventory figures as of Sept. 30, 2015. By Aaron M. U. Church, Senior Editor ■ 2016 USAF Almanac BOMBER AIRCRAFT B-1 Lancer Brief: Long-range bomber capable of penetrating enemy defenses and de- livering the largest weapon load of any aircraft in the inventory. COMMENTARY The B-1A was initially proposed as replacement for the B-52, and four proto- types were developed and tested before program cancellation in 1977. The program was revived in 1981 as B-1B. The vastly upgraded aircraft added 74,000 lb of usable payload, improved radar, and reduced radar cross section, but cut maximum speed to Mach 1.2. The B-1B first saw combat in Iraq during Desert Fox in December 1998. Its three internal weapons bays accommodate a substantial payload of weapons, including a mix of different weapons in each bay. Lancer production totaled 100 aircraft. The bomber’s blended wing/ body configuration, variable-geometry design, and turbofan engines provide long range and loiter time. The B-1B has been upgraded with GPS, smart weapons, and mission systems. Offensive avionics include SAR for tracking, B-2A Spirit (SSgt. Jeremy M. Wilson) targeting, and engaging moving vehicles and terrain following. GPS-aided INS lets aircrews autonomously navigate without ground-based navigation aids Dimensions: Span 137 ft (spread forward) to 79 ft (swept aft), length 146 and precisely engage targets. Sniper pod was added in 2008. The ongoing ft, height 34 ft. integrated battle station modifications is the most comprehensive refresh in Weight: Max T-O 477,000 lb.
    [Show full text]