Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-07
Air Defense System
FouIty. General Says
Detection and lnterceptors
Cited us Needed Urgently
BY Thomos R. Henry

6EfthEl1Ex 4, C01lls - O6Splte ekluE~
nous advances in the past few years
this country needs far more extensive
and effective air defense system. the
cost Of which may be prohihitive.
This warning was sounded before the
American ASSOCIATION for the Advance
ment Of Science by Maj. Gen. Walter
E. Todd, commander Of the Joint West
ern Air Defense Force.
Some Of the needs within practical
limits:
Several rings Of radar stations ca
pable Of detecting aircraft or guided
missiles at least is miles high. which
win completely encircle the continent.
About I million air observer volun-
teers. three times the number at pres
ent. to I'LL in gaps In the radar system.
All-weather interceptors which can
fly considerably faster and higher than
any attacking bomber and be able to
reach that bomber in q matter Of
minutes These must be so simply de-
signed that they can be flown by young
pilots with little experience.
Greater range in surface-to-air
weapons so that enemy bombers that
crash with nuclear weapon cargoes
viii fall In appropriated areas where
radioactive debris viii do Q minimum
of harm.
Robot Radar Sets.
Robot-manned radars. In present
radar operations men must watch
sweeping. moving lines on radarscopes
for hours at time. which is compa-
rable to watching the second hand on
a clock for hours without looking away.
There are bound to be lapses Of at
tention. perhaps at crucial instants.
Automatically launched and steered
guided missiles with computer-type
automatic pilots. Such missile must
be capable OF speeds many times that
Of sound and have an altitude range
into the Shakespeare. It must not be
susceptible to electronic countermeas-
ures, and its power plant and auto
matte guidance must provide precise
accuracy.
"This," said Gen. Todd, "can be
likened to trying to hit with q rifle
bullet the bullet just fired from am
other rifle"
Steps already achieved, or in prog
reSs, listed by the air commander, are:
Two new interceptor planes, each q
considerable advance over the Sabre
Jet Of Korean war fame. These. the
Starfire and the Scorpion, each carry
a pilot and radar observer. The
planes carry their own airborne radar
and are capable of intercepting tar
get in any weather that could possibly
Ro 0YaNNlirfaNnA al d..
terceptors are virtually steered to the
vicinity Of the target by ground radar
controllers. As the area Of the un-
identified plane is reached the inter-
ceptor's own radar takes over and
guides 1t to the target. The planes
are armed with air-to-air rockets that
are automatically aimed and fred by
radar.
Emergency System.
Very shortly each radar station In
the United States which exercises
control over interceptors win be tied
in by 'landline to the most powerful
commercial broadcast station in its
vicinity so that control messages can
be transmitted without delay over
such broadcast stations IN an emer-
gency.
Radar, Gen. Todd pointed out. has
some great drawbacks In the defense
system. such as inability to 60 through
mountains or around the curvature Of
the earth. Il also Is unable with any
certainty to distinguish types and
numbers Of aircrafts.
Areas known as air 4 Tense identi-
fication zones have been established
along all borders and over certain
critical interior areas. Pilots Of all
aircraft penetrating such zones must
file detailed flight plans before start
ing. These reports Immediately are
processed through air defense chan
neis. II pilots fail to file such plans.
interceptors win be sent out to iden-
tify them.
Another important development, he
said. Is the inauguration Of flying RAJ
dar stations that win be capable OF
sweeping the skies far over the ocean
beyond Navy picket ships.