NATO Crypto

[Ian Wraith]

Hello

>> The RAF were supposed to have all encrypted comms by 2001 - They are 
>> nowhere near it.
>
>I'm always puzzled by this.  When I buy something online, crypto
>protects my credit card details.  When NATO aircraft attack Serbia the
>communications are often in the clear.  Why is it this way round? 
>Surely protecting pilots' lives is far more important than people's
>credit card details.

 A few years back when the British Army had just started peacekeeping in
Bosnia there was a little item on the BBC TV news about how the Welsh
Guards serving out there were reduced to communicating in Welsh to try
and stop the Serbs from eavesdropping due to the shortage of encrypted
radios. The very next weekend I visited Anchor Supplies in Nottingham
city centre (a govt surplus outlet that is always worth a visit) and was
amazed to find what appeared to be 3 brand new and still boxed Racal 
voice encryption add on units for Clansman radios for sale. From the quick 
report I saw the Guards seemed to be using Clansman radios. So why was one 
part of the MOD selling voice encryption units to the public probably for
their scrap value while another part was sending troops to a war zone
with no voice encryption ? I presume it makes sense to someone. The MOD 
must be still selling these units as they keep turning up on ebay I saw 
one just the other week.

Regards

Ian