Post on 04-May-2018
Advances in Military Technology
Atomic and Nuclear Weapons
• Manhattan Project to Develop atomic bomb
• 2 bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WWII
• US later developed hydrogen fusion bomb
• 1952 tested 1st hydrogen bomb in Pacific
Nuclear attack
• Nuclear bombs could be dropped by planes (B29 Superfortress designed with this in mind)
• Nuclear missiles could also be launched from underground ‘silos’
• Nuclear missiles or torpedoes could also be launched from submarines
• Nuclear shells to be fired from cannon were also developed
Rockets
• Werner Von Braun had worked on V1 and V2 Rockets in Germany during World War II
• After war Von Braun brought to US to help work on rockets and missiles
• Medium range: Snark, Corporal, Pershing Missiles
Later developments in rocket technology
• Minuteman rocket developed in 1962
• Minuteman used computer guidance system to reach its target
• Polaris and Poseidon missiles developed in 1960s
ICBMs
• Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles were also developed
• Some to be launched from underground silos
• Later also could be launched from submarines
• Atlas, Titan rockets developed in in 1950s
Multiple Warheads
• USA developed missiles with multiple warheads
• Peacekeeper missile had range of over 5,000 miles
Cruise Missiles
• Cruise missiles had computer guidance system to help them reach their targets
• Flew at low altitudes in order to avoid the radar
• Could carry conventional or nuclear warheads
Nuclear submarines
• Nuclear submarines used nuclear reactors for their power but could also launch nuclear missiles
• Polaris developed in 1960s
• Poseidon later developed
• Trident in 1980s
Early Warning Systems
• Both USA and USSR wanted to know as soon as possible of a nuclear attack in the event that it happened
• US and Canada developed Distant Early Warning System (DEWS) (line of radar stations)
• Also the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
Satellites• Sattellites developed for
military as well as civilian use• 1960 Satellite and Missile
Observation Satellite (SAMOS) launched by US
• Satellites could be used as part of early warning system
• Satellites could also be used for spying
• Satellites also use for global position systems which has lots of mililtary applications
• In 1980s Reagan launched Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or ‘Star Wars’ to develop a defence from space
Planes
• Planes could be used for bombing, attack, reconaissance, spying, carrying troops, supplies and so on
• Fighters, bombers, transport, reconaissance aircraft all developed by USA
Advances in Aircraft technology
• Jet engines developed at the end of WWII
• F86 Sabre in 1950s• Supersonic jets
developed in 1950s• U2 spy plane used to
photograph launch sites in Cuba leading to Cuban Missile Crisis
Helicopters
• Helicopters could be used to carry troops and equipment, observation, rescue
• Attack helicopters with machine guns or missiles also developed
• Huey• Blackhawk
• Tomahawk
Conventional Weapons
• Tanks• Battleships• Aircraft carriers• Submarines• Aircraft• Helicopters• Drones• Supersonic air to air
missiles • (e.g. Sidewinder,
Phoenix, Falcon)
Military Spending
• Huge amounts of money are spent by US government on military technology and weaponry
• In 1950 $12 billion of $40 billion government spending was on military
• Many employed in industries connected to military technology and weaponry
Big corporations and military contracts
• Big corporations could get very lucrative contracts providing technology and weaponry to the military
• IBM provided computers• General Electric, Boeing,
Lockheed Martin all involved in providing missiles
• Other companies involved in tanks, planes, ships, weapons etc…
Military Industrial Complex
• Eisenhower referred to ‘military-industrial complex’ in 1961 to describe this connection between military spending and industry
• He was worried about the relationship between some in the military and industry
Concern about the Military-Industrial Complex
• Both the military and the industries that supplied them had an interest in increased military spending
• Politicians from areas where industries supplying the military were based also favoured increased spending as it provided jobs for their voters
• Together they formed a powerful lobby that politicians would find hard to resist
• Eisenhower was concerned that they would fuel the cold war and fear of attack in order to encourage military spending