Navy aviation: skills surpass smart weapons.

• Author: Erwin, Sandra I.

The notion that precision-guided munitions make tactical aviation less dangerous is ludicrous, U.S. naval aviators contend. That fallacy perpetually is fueled by media reports that eulogize the capabilities of smart bombs and portray bombing campaigns as wars fought by remote control.

Naval aviators who fought in Operation Enduring Freedom said they were encouraged and upbeat by the newly-found appreciation for carrier-based aviation seen since the outbreak of the conflict in Afghanistan a year ago. Nonetheless, they expressed concern about the misunderstandings associated with modern strike warfare.

The widespread belief that dropping bombs can be compared to phying a video game is worrisome and conveys the wrong message, pilots said.

"There is a perception in the world that aviation has become a thing that you do from a distance. That you stand far away, you hit a button, the weapon comes off, you go back to the carrier. That is not true," said Capt. Dave Mercer, a naval aviator who commanded Carrier Air Wing 8 during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Mercer, along with other fellow carrier wing commanders, parleyed their thoughts on Operation Enduring Freedom and the future of naval aviation during the Tailhook convention, an annual gathering of naval aviators held this month in Sparks, Nev.

"Everything that we drop requires you to go in harm's way," said Mercer. "It's important to understand that, because it's going to be that way for a little while longer."

The weapons of choice in naval tactical aviation today--the laser-guided bombs, the satellite-guided JDAMs and the laser Maverick missile--are accurate for the most part, but still require significant human skill to make them work properly.

"The theory that we drop from 50 miles away and go back to the ship is not true," Mercer stressed. "You have to fly in harm's way to put bombs on target." Laser bombs generally are dropped from an altitude of 15,000 feet and JDAMs from about 30,000 feet.

He did not discount the possibility, however, that pilot-less weapons such as unmanned aircraft may take over one day. "Some day, God forbid, we are going to have UAVs to replace fliers. I'm glad f won't be around to see it."

Speculating about a future military campaign in Iraq, Mercer suggested that any air war would be dominated by carrier-based aviation, for several reasons. The Navy has flown missions over Iraq steadily during the past 11 years, in Operation Southern Watch, so it has had ample...