Precision bombing....2 questions please (not a joke)

[Airspeed]

According to "AIRFORCE", "The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force",
there are at least some guided weapons that are programmed by ground technicians.
The programmed section is then fitted to the powered section, then a warhead is added.
The pilot and his/her aircraft then take the combination to a safe distance from the target, and release the weapon.
Following the predetermined instruction, the warhead is delivered to the target.
Under these circumstances, it seems almost unbelievable that US aircraft scored a direct hit on a MSF hospital in the Middle East recently.

Question 1: do any of you know how widespread is the use of the system described above?
Question 2: if the pilot in the tragic case directed the weapon, how did the overall system allow a known hospital to be targeted? One would think that certain co-ordinates would be automatically refused, to avoid some oddball bombing his own HQ.

[DaveB]

I believe cruise missiles work as described Mike.. that is, their targets are predetermined. I don't think any system can be 100% fool-proof.. the human part of the equation will see to that. This said.. while some have been known to miss, they are a formidable weapon with a high degree of accuracy.

ATB
DaveB

[grumpyoldb]

As with a satnav, enter the target co-ordinates and then no matter where you are when you switch the satnav on it will direct you to your destination. Nost satnav's are accurate to less than one metre. That's enough to destroy the target. Maybe someone got the postcode wrong.

[airboatr]

All the smart, highly educated, people in charge are claiming ignorance....
Hillary Clinton will be in front of a congressional hearing tomorrow (thursday) .... if you care to see it in action. ..

you can bet American citizens who have a conscience, who respect life, .. want her held accountable.
We're sick if the bs from .... who? Citizens who took an oath to uphold the law. That's who they are, nothing more in my book.

I'm utterly incensed over the misuse of power placed it their hands by the people of this nation.

[SkippyBing]

You're assuming perfect knowledge throughout the organisation. I rarely find perfect knowledge of a situation exists in my office.

For a more in depth answer read pretty much anything by Prof James Reason, this'll probably do for starters http://www.amazon.co.uk/Human-Error-Jam ... 0521314194
Other professors of human error are available.

[Dev One]

Most satnav's are accurate to less than one metre.

Thats assuming that the co-ordinates are correct in the first place....how were they quantified?
Keith

[DaveB]

This is the 'human element' I mentioned

Thank goodness they're more reliable (on the whole) than satnavs. I know for a fact that I could enter a postcode for a location to the east of Shenstone and bomb some poor sod on the east of Lichfield. You have reached your destination.. not!!

ATB
DaveB