The Most Dangerous Weapon Aimed at U.S. Troops Isn't What You Think. (Have you seen this article? What are your thoughts?)

SFC Joseph James — Tue, 26 May 2015 19:10:22 -0400

Popular Mechanics wrote an article about portable surface-to-air missiles being one of the biggest threats to our Military Men and Women! What do you think about this threat?

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a15728/manpads-threat-american-troops/

The Most Dangerous Weapon Aimed at U.S. Troops Isn't What You Think

What experts say about portable surface-to-air missiles may surprise you.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made May 26 at 2015 7:14 PM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Tue, 26 May 2015 19:14:21 -0400

That is not surprising, couple this with unconventional tactics and you have a very scary situation

Response by SGT James Elphick made May 26 at 2015 7:28 PM

SGT James Elphick — Tue, 26 May 2015 19:28:11 -0400

The Russians learned the same lesson in Afghanistan in the 80's. MANPADS combined with IED's would make freedom of movement quite difficult for any force.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made May 26 at 2015 7:33 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Tue, 26 May 2015 19:33:52 -0400

The most dangerous weapon pointed at US Troops is the liberal Politically Correct Agenda being pushed by the Anointed One and his cronies in Washington.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made May 26 at 2015 7:52 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Tue, 26 May 2015 19:52:48 -0400

If you're an aviator, or travel in helos, planes or Ospreys, SAMS are certainly a risk. SAMS can also be used against non-air targets, such as buildings, people, vehicles, etc.

That being said, I am not sure I would agree with their assessment. IEDs were the signature form of injury in Iq and Af, so I'm not really sure how PM gets their conclusions...

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2015 9:17 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2015 21:17:05 -0400

The MANPAD threat is a myth. Most of the advanced systems are delicate and require careful storage or have battery systems that rapidly expire. The countries that possess these have far better ADA systems and we won't see a war with them anytime soon. Even the Stingers given to the Afghans during the 90's were long expired and non-functional before the first US boot was on the ground and they were the boogeyman in the early days of the war. The lower end MANPAD systems, particularly the more readily available Russian and Chinese MANPADs, are easily defeated by most modern military airframes. MANPADs have killed surprisingly few people.

The big threat to US civilian airliners is also a myth. The MANPADs are too difficult to acquire and again, are vulnerable to improper storage. Without going into too many details where Western and European civilian airliners fly, there isn't a threat or there are adequate countermeasures in place before they are allowed to fly low altitude in the threatened airspace.

The most dangerous weapon pointed at US troops is still the AK-47 followed by closely by the latest generation of cheap but vastly improved RPG rockets.

Response by SFC Dennis Yancy made May 27 at 2015 4:04 PM

SFC Dennis Yancy — Wed, 27 May 2015 16:04:39 -0400

Shoulder fired weapons are not that big a threat to individual soldier. Politics are the greatest threat to any individual.

Response by PO2 Christopher Taggart made May 28 at 2015 5:47 PM

PO2 Christopher Taggart — Thu, 28 May 2015 17:47:31 -0400

For me it was first wife and the F-BOMB bullets and bombs I could heal from --I am still feeling that attack ahhhhh!