In warfare in which both sides know exactly where the enemy is and what they are doing, sophisticated radar and surface-to-air-missiles (SAMs) create the most dangerous mission in which any pilot can participate. The idea is to fly in at top speed but fully detected, complete the mission, and fly out. Some would call such efforts "suicide missions," but UK expert consultant Withington does not necessarily agree, arguing that distraction and diffraction methods are also sophisticated, perhaps even more so than detection systems. He describes dozens of methods of fooling radar, from the simple (flying low and spraying decoys) to the truly amazing modern methods of blinding radar and deflecting SAMs, describing missions in Vietnam, the Middle East, the Balkans, Cold War theaters and Desert Storm. He concludes with new techniques being used in the global war on terror. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)