IP: No human finger will actually pull a trigger..: Risks Digest 21.20

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 16:10:55 -0500
> From: "Daniel P. B. Smith" <dpbsmith () world std com>
> Subject: No human finger will actually pull a trigger...
>
> "Hemos," in an article in Slashdot, called my attention to
>   http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/01/12/airborne.laser/index.html
> This describes a weapons system under development, in which a Boeing 747
> will carry an airborne laser capable of shooting down missiles.  According
> to the article:
>
>   No trigger man
>
>   No human finger will actually pull a trigger. Onboard computers will
>   decide when to fire the beam.
>
>   Machinery will be programmed to fire because human beings may not be fast
>   enough to determine whether a situation warrants the laser's use, said
>   Col. Lynn Wills of U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command, who is to oversee
>   the battle management suite.
>
>   The nose-cone turret is still under construction
>
>   "This all has to happen much too fast," Wills said. "We will give the
>   computer its rules of engagement before the mission, and it will have
>   orders to fire when the conditions call for it."
>
>   The laser has about only an 18-second "kill window" in which to lock on
>   and destroy a rising missile, said Wills.
>
>   "We not only have to be fast, we have to be very careful about where we
>   shoot," said Wills, who noted that the firing system will have a manual
>   override. "The last thing we want to do is lase an F-22 (fighter jet)."
>
> "I should've done better, didn't mean to be unkind.
> Y'know that was the last thing on my mind..."
>
> Daniel P. B. Smith <dpbsmith () world std com>



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