New Weapons Since Gulf War
Ten years after the Gulf War, the United States and Iraq may soon be fighting again. While the enemy is the same, U.S. forces will have some new and upgraded weapons at their disposal.
Primary strike fighter used by the Navy and Marines. The E/F Super Hornet variant entered production in 1995 and was first delivered to the Navy in December 1998. The updated planes are larger in several measurements (wing area, vertical tail and horizontal tail).
The Navy plans to buy 222 Super Hornets by 2005.
B-2 Spirit 
The stealth bomber first became operational in December 1993. Only permanent base is Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Special materials and design make it very difficult to observe on radar and through other means. Can carry full arsenal of convential and nuclear weapons. Each plane costs approximately $1.2 billion.
RQ-1 Predator
This remote-controlled drone was designed for aerial surveillance without putting a pilot in danger. During the war in Afghanistan, it was fitted with Hellfire missiles to enable it to attack targets that it finds. Each 27-foot-long craft costs $25 million. Often used in a "system" of four aircraft, a ground station and a satellite link. Needs 55 crew members for 24-hour operations. First deployed in Europe in 1995, and took place in operations in Bosnia.
-- New tail section that turns old-fashioned "free-fall" bombs into "smart" weapons that can be guided to a target. Pentagon started buying the kits in 1998. Boeing expected to deliver 2,800 per month by August 2003.
BLU-118/B Thermobaric Warhead
Warhead that is designed to create a blast wave with higher-than-usual pressure when the bomb it is attached to is exploded in tight spaces. The new explosive was made a priority after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, went through a rapid development process, and 10 warheads were made available in Dec. 2001. The weapon was used to attack cave complexes in Afghanistan.
Aircraft
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Primary strike fighter used by the Navy and Marines. The E/F Super Hornet variant entered production in 1995 and was first delivered to the Navy in December 1998. The updated planes are larger in several measurements (wing area, vertical tail and horizontal tail).
The Navy plans to buy 222 Super Hornets by 2005.
B-2 Spirit
The stealth bomber first became operational in December 1993. Only permanent base is Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Special materials and design make it very difficult to observe on radar and through other means. Can carry full arsenal of convential and nuclear weapons. Each plane costs approximately $1.2 billion.
RQ-1 Predator
This remote-controlled drone was designed for aerial surveillance without putting a pilot in danger. During the war in Afghanistan, it was fitted with Hellfire missiles to enable it to attack targets that it finds. Each 27-foot-long craft costs $25 million. Often used in a "system" of four aircraft, a ground station and a satellite link. Needs 55 crew members for 24-hour operations. First deployed in Europe in 1995, and took place in operations in Bosnia.
ORDNANCE
JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) -- New tail section that turns old-fashioned "free-fall" bombs into "smart" weapons that can be guided to a target. Pentagon started buying the kits in 1998. Boeing expected to deliver 2,800 per month by August 2003.
BLU-118/B Thermobaric Warhead
Warhead that is designed to create a blast wave with higher-than-usual pressure when the bomb it is attached to is exploded in tight spaces. The new explosive was made a priority after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, went through a rapid development process, and 10 warheads were made available in Dec. 2001. The weapon was used to attack cave complexes in Afghanistan.Copyright 2003 by WLWT.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
