[sean327]

I wouldn’t call the SAM system that brought that aircraft down a “microwave oven”. That F-117 was shot down with the SA-3 using the below combination of Aquisition, Target Track/Missle Guidance, and Height Finder radars.

P-15 “Flat Face” or P-15M(2) “Squat Eye” 380 kW C-band target acquisition radar (also used by the SA-6 and SA-8, range 60 km.

SNR-125 “Low Blow” 250 kW I/D-band tracking, fire control and guidance radar (range 40 km, second mode 80 km.

PRV-11 “Side Net” E-band height finder (also used by SA-2, SA-4 and SA-5, range 28 km max height 32 km/105,000 ft).

Call this system a “microwave oven” all you want, but it is a very deadly system when operated by a very well trained crew. Unlike the Iraqi crews in both the Gulf War and Iraqi Freedom, this crew knew what the hell they were doing.

[Hulka]

And the fact that Gen Wussy Clark demanded the 117’s fly the exact same flight path, the exact same time, every night.

[BwanaNdege]

I love a comprehensive reply from someone who knows the subject!

BTW, have you ever seen a current mortar that fires “football sized” rounds? (~ 7 inches/178mm diameter) WWI and WWII used big mortars, but 120mm is about the largest currently in use.