Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-21
Guided Missiles ond Air Power

Guided Missiles ond Air Power
In its forthcoming effort to investigate
and evaluate clashing interservice theories
regarding super aircraft carriers, jet
propelled interceptor planes, and giant
strategic bombers like the B-36, the House
Armed Services Committee probably will
find itself impelled to give thought to
guided missiles. The subject has received
little publicity, but 1t has such revolution
airy implications that 1t must be studied
in connection with any attempt to divine
the role of military aviation in the world
of tomorrow.
Thus, as far as the immediate future is
concerned, the question to be asked is
not simply whether the B-36 Is or is not
vulnerable to jet-fighter attack at an alti-
tude of 10000 feet or over. The question,
In addition, is whether we and our poten-
tial enemies do not now have In the guided
missile defensive weapon that is capable
OF cancelling out much of what Is gener-
ally assumed to be the immense offensive
power of modern strategic bomberS. BY
the same token moreover, the question Is
whether this weapon has not already re-
duced the significance Of interceptor planes
designed to shoot down those bombers
The question applies, too, to the debated
value Of supercarriers.
OF course, 1t is more than probable that
big bombers, Jet fighters and carriers of
one kind or another will loom large as
essential weapons in every major country's
military establishment for some time to
come. But that time may not be as pro-
tracted as many people suppose Indeed
as of today, there is reason to believe that
the guided missile nullifies the claims of
those who have described craft like the
B-36 as being nearly invulnerable to fighter
plane attack. At any rate, authori-
tative sources have strongly indicated that
the missile, though still not completely per-
fected, can be produced right now in a
form effective enough to exact a heavy
toll of attacking air power piloted by
humans.
In other words, should a war break out
in the next few years, we and our enemies
apparently would be armed with a de-
cidedly strong defense against strategic
bombers. The missile as described by
experts, would have a range of about
three hundred miles, would be guided by
radar toward attacking craft, would travel
far faster than the speed of sound, and
would be equipped with homing device
and a proximity fuze. The homing device
would make the bomber automatically
attract the weapon to itself, and the sfuze
would set off the destroying explosion even
without actual physical contact with the
target.
Unless it has been grossly. exaggerated,
this short-range version of the guided
missile is thus so deadly in its defensive
power that 1t casts doubt on the true
extent and effectiveness of even the near
future role of either land-baSed or carrier
based heavy bombers. As for the long
range intercontinental version, which
would fly accurately at supersonic speed
against targets thousands of miles away,
1t is not yet available, but scientific de-
velopments, including the perfection of q
new gyroscope designed to keep 1t on
steady course. indicate that its advent is
only a matter of time, probably another
twenty years or so.
In sum, even as the House Armed Serv-
ices Committee prepares to weigh the
relative significance of aircraft carriers,
giant bOmbers and Jet fighters, 1t must
also null over the fact that we appear
to be moving swiftly into an age when
such things may be rendered altogether
obsolete by offensive and defensive military
aviation in the form of pilotless guided
missiles. The prospect bears out what
General Arnold said In 1945, In one Of his
last reports as chief of the Army Air
Forces-namely, that by 1882 our strength
in the sky may mean far different equip
ment with destructive power and accuracy
OF which man has not yet dreamed"
And 1t Is worth recalling that in the
same report General Arnold counseled that
'the first essential of the air power neces-
sary for our national security Is pre-
eminence in research" In order to keep
ourselves always abreast of revolutionary
developments as yet unconceived." That
counsel is still very much to the point.
In following 1t. as we are in the field Of
guided missiles, we are guarding against
the danger of relying too much on weapons
that may become museum pieces before
another decade ends.
Gift From burmu