Sparks Over Vietnam

<p>Technology has often been a key component in turning the tide of battle particularly so in modern air wars. From the Battle of Britain to the Bekaa Valley to the most recent air operations against Iraq and Serbia an invisible but vital duel was waged for control of the electromagnetic spectrum with victory going to the side best prepared to exploit it while at the same time denying its effective use to the enemy. Both the Gulf War and the Air War Over Serbia illustrated the vital role of airborne electronic warfare rekindling concerns for effective electronic systems techniques doctrine and platforms. Contrary to many peoples' impressions stealth technology has not negated the need for electronic jamming. Rather it has increased both the desirability of and potential benefits for judicious disruption of enemy electronic defense networks. This study underscores the important use of electronic intelligence and jamming as an electronic countermeasure. Three decades ago the USAF faced a North Vietnamese electronic air defense threat about which little was known. Through some extraordinary efforts the USAF ably countered that threat employing an obsolete aircraft the EB-66 only refitted and upgraded for mid 1960s missions. Since the aircraft was at the end of its projected lifecycle and a new jammer was on the drawing board the air staff would not fund additional EB-66 modifications and maintenance requirements. Parallels are easy to draw with today's jammers as essentially the same situation exists with the EA-6B. The number of EB-66 aircraft during the Vietnam War was inadequate to meet both operational and training requirements. Thus crews were trained on the job often during combat operations and the boneyard at Davis-Monthan was often the site of scavenger hunts for repair parts needed to keep the aircraft aloft.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>