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At least one early-warning satellite is parked over the Indian Ocean at all times, using its infrared eye to scour Iraqi territory every 12 seconds for the hot flare of a missile launch. Upon detection, an astonishing split-second relay of signals is set into motion. First, the satellite sends its data simultaneously to an Air Force ground station in Woomera, Australia, and to the U.S. Space Command's Missile Warning Center near Colorado Springs. Computers in Colorado instantly sort through the information, identify individual missiles, project target areas and flash the results by satellite back to the gulf. All this happens in time for air-raid sirens to sound four to five minutes before the missiles complete their seven-minute journey. A new, more direct route may increase the odds of intercepting the Scuds. According to this week's issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology, Patriot batteries are receiving unprocessed alerts directly from the early-warning satellites.
None of this would work were it not for the intricate communication network that now crisscrosses the gulf. This elaborate command-and-control system enables allied generals to coordinate not only the American land, sea and air forces but also those of its coalition partners. The brains of the operation are housed in a government building in Riyadh, where an encrypted book of flight schedules and bombing targets is generated every 24 hours and is broadcast to individual commanders by satellite, microwave and secure telephone lines.
How do the generals keep straight the tens of thousands of details involved in organizing up to 3,000 missions a day? "We have a lot of computers," says Lieut. General Charles Horner, the allied air commander. The exact number of machines is unknown, but a Texas supply house reports that Central Command gave it a rush order last month for 1,300 desktop computers, 1,300 laser printers, 350 laptops, 10 local-area networks and an assortment of peripheral equipment (including dust covers and cleaning kits) with a delivery date of "no later than Jan. 14."
The danger with any endeavor so dependent on advanced electronics and jewel- like engineering is that when such systems encounter unexpected trouble they usually do not just slow down; they crash. The Pentagon has not shown any TV pictures of "smart" bombs flying a perfect path into the side of a camel. But as the Scud hits have demonstrated, mistakes do happen. One aircraft expert says the desert sand has wreaked havoc with the British Tornado jets, lodging in the turbine engine blades and melting into glass. If blades on U.S. jets are faring better, it may be because enginemakers imported tons of Saudi sand for tests several years ago and modified their equipment accordingly.
Another natural phenomenon that might cause trouble is electromagnetic radiation from the sun. Heightened solar-flare activity, expected over the next few months, could disrupt military communications and satellite traffic. Air Force officials have called this issue "too sensitive for comment."