The Military's New Arsenal

Warfare just isn't what it used to be. Today, massive missiles and heavy weaponry used in traditional combat are not effective against bands of insurgents, so military developers are tailoring their new technology to the modern battlefield. Their latest invention: "miniature missiles about a quarter of the size of the next smallest on the planet." The infamous Predator drones that bombard the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan could carry a dozen of these missiles under development, which are considered a major development in munitions. Other unmanned aircraft used only for surveillance could also be armed with the lightweight missiles. The technology highlights Defense Secretary Gates' new emphasis on the type of conflict with insurgents that so befuddled the American military at the beginning of the Iraq war.