Army blames Patriot's computer for failure to stop Dhahran scud
Article Abstract:
A US Army investigation discovers that a computer malfunction was responsible for the failure of the Patriot missile anti-missile system to stop a Scud missile from killing 28 people in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, during the Persian Gulf War of 1991. The radar system that is responsible for sending Patriot anti-missile missiles to intercept incoming Scud missiles was rendered incapable by a computer failure, and the incoming Scud missile was never detected. Army investigators note that the problem, which never came up in thousands of hours of testing, involves a complex software program. The problem was discovered by investigators after searching through the system's high-speed digital recorder and was easy to fix.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: News, opinion and commentary
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1991
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Computer flaw suspected in test-plane crash
Article Abstract:
The United States Air Force announced that a computer flaw may have caused the crash of the working test model F-22 aircraft. The Air Force Chief of Staff suspects that the computerized flight controls, which make hundreds of calculations every second, malfunctioned. The crash took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The pilot escaped with minor injuries, but the plane was engulfed in fire. The accident will not slow down the development of the F-22 aircraft. The F-22 is designed to evade radar and replace the F-15 Eagle. The Air Force had intended to retire the plane after test flights sometime in May 1992. The Air Force also plans to spend up to $95 billion on a total of 648 F-22 planes.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: News, opinion and commentary
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1992
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Omaha: talk, talk, talk of telemarketing. Guilty plea by Unisys is expected; military contractor would admit fraud and pay $190 million
- Abstracts: Apple by Apple. A circus is on its way to the stores: Tandy adds music, lights and animation, but when will the software be ready?
- Abstracts: I.B.M.-Motorola talks end on advanced chip license. I.B.M. link with Lotus is expected; software company's product called Notes is basis of alliance
- Abstracts: Another big loss expected at Businessland. Loss could force Businessland into bankruptcy
- Abstracts: Digital plans new effort in PC market. Digital back in PC market with bold mail-order plans