October 9, 2008:
The most potent aerial weapons don't explode,
they just find the target in any weather. These are the IR (infrared, or heat
sensitive) cameras that are mounted in stabilized turrets and mounted on
aircraft and helicopters. The FLIR (a heat sensing vidcam) provides the pilot
with live black and white video of what is on the ground, and makes possible
precision attacks with missiles or smart bombs. Since the early 1990s, the range
and resolution of the FLIR (forward looking IR) has increased enormously. The
turrets mounted on helicopters can use their FLIR to see out to 20 kilometers
or more, and have 100x or more magnification. The turrets or targeting pods
using this equipment also have daytime color cameras, laser rangefinders and
laser designators. The airborne units are stabilized, so that the image the
pilot sees via the FLIR or vidcam stays steady, even though the aircraft might
be bouncing around.
Since the 1990s, the resolution of FLIR
has increased to the point where users can identify people and vehicles 10-20
kilometers away, and put a laser designator on something up to ten kilometers
away (which laser smart bombs home in on.) There are also version of these
turrets for use on ships and trucks (like humvees). That latter were first used
during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and proved very useful.
The helicopter turrets cost about
$900,000. The targeting pod versions for fighters cost a bit more, and the ship
and vehicle versions, a bit less. These sensors have radically changed the way
helicopters and warplanes operate. With these "magic eyes", pilots
find themselves working closely with the ground troops to find targets. There
has never been this much cooperation between ground troops and combat pilots.