>>> David Martorana on "SMART BOMBS?"
WE> How smart is a smart bomb or missile that is so expensive that it
WE> costs more than the target it destroys?
DM>
DM> Very very smart in terms of bottom line economic concerns. In
DM> WWII, using "less intelligent" bombs and MISSING target hits much
DM> of the time, we lost not only many planes (many thousands) but
DM> many crews (many thousands) as well. Costs must consider the
DM> "overall" delivery systems, their enormous production,
DM> maintenance, supply and above all, human, costs. The smart bomb is
DM> rather cheap in terms of the kill/destruct to cost ratio (if even
DM> just measured in airmen, dead or captured).
Hm, so delivery costs are saved by being smart. Not so dumb.
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