High-Tech Weapons Need Easy-to-Read Instructions

As a former worker in the defense industry, I am concerned about the impact of the cost cutting discussed in Ralph Vartabedian’s article, “War May Yield Mixed Results for U.S. Arms Firms” (Jan. 20).

Even if our high-technology weapons are successful in the Persian Gulf War, we may lose lives because of our inability to properly maintain such weapons. Likely reasons for this are flaws in operating instructions accompanying these weapons, coupled with inadequate technical training of the military personnel who use them.

For years, I have noticed badly written, unclear instructions in many weapons operating manuals. Since warfare today is highly computerized, any confusion about weapons operation could mean a deadly error.

A possible explanation for weaker instructions is the overwhelming pressure placed on defense contractors to deliver weapons on schedule. Quality becomes a secondary issue.

Among the thousands of technical personnel being laid off these days are those who write simple, comprehensible language for manuals. If highly inexperienced personnel are hired at lower salaries to replace those skilled workers, eventually we may not be able to deliver the weapons at all.

SHELDON J. KARLAN

Buena Park