Technology in the Falklands War:
Fought behind “Cockpits and radar machines”
• High Technology Missiles: Used by both Argentina and Britain
• Electronic Communications:
o Ability to track naval ships
o Shoot “smart” missiles
SEA:
• Smart missile (precision guided)- able to guide itself to specific target
• Argentina shoots British HMS Sheffield (big deal)
• $200,000 Exocet missile sinks $40 million ship
AIR:
AIM9L Sidewinder missile: aim and forget- revolutionizes missile trajectory
• Britain: shoots 27 missiles, takes down 24 Argentine planes
• Argentina uses Matra R. 530 missiles
o Useless
Why important: Development of new weapons
• Argentina is inferior with technology
o Britain wins quickly
• Technology is important in winning wars in the 20th century
• Smart weapons allow shooter to set the target and the missile will guide itself
o War becomes less direct
• Rethinks the idea of naval war-
o Navy above the sea is vulnerable
