The United States has confirmed that Iraq has improved the accuracy of its anti-aircraft fire against allied war planes even without the use of radars.

U.S. officials said Baghdad has developed a method of targeting high-flying U.S. aircraft. The Iraqis have stopped operating their radar batteries in an attempt to surprise U.S. and British warplanes on patrol of northern and southern Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported.

The Iraqi method, the officials said, involves the operation of Baghdad's new early-warning radar developed by China. The radar is linked by fiber-optic cables to command centers in the south and provides information on approaching allied warplanes. In February, allied warplanes tried unsuccessfully to destroy the underground communications network.

Officials said Iraq has succeeded in tracking incoming British and U.S. warplanes, particularly from Kuwait, without producing radar emissions in northern and southern. But this method appears unsuitable to track allied fighter-jets, and, instead, Iraq has targeted slower moving reconnaissance planes.

On Tuesday, an Iraqi missile nearly slammed into a U.S. U-2 spy plane over southern Iraq. The plane was believed to have flown at an altitude of 60,000 feet.

On July 19, an Iraqi surface-to-air missile was fired toward a U.S. E-2C reconnaissance plane flying over Kuwait. Pentagon officials said they are seeking ways to increase protection of U.S. aircraft that patrol the no-fly zones.

"We're very much aware of this incident and are assessing what, if any, should be modifications to our patterns of flight activity, both tactical and strategic aircraft," Pentagon spokesman Craig Quigley. "And we will adapt if we need to, but that's still under consideration."

Meanwhile, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has expanded the powers of his military industry chief following Baghdad's deployment of a new anti-aircraft missile.

Saddam has appointed Abdul Tawab Mulla Huwaysh as one of four deputy prime ministers. Under a presidential decree announced on Wednesday, Huwaysh will retain his post as minister of military industrialization.

The Pentagon said Iraq has developed a new anti-aircraft missile which was twice fired at U.S. planes, the latest incident which took place on Tuesday.

Arab diplomatic sources said Huwaysh is responsible for the Iraqi military buildup. This includes the development of upgrades and new systems for the armed forces.

China and several republics of the former Soviet Union are said to be helping Iraq's drive to modernize its military and improve air defenses. Saddam held a series of meetings over the six weeks to discuss Iraqi military projects. The contents of the meetings were not disclosed.

The president's latest meeting was on Wednesday with his atomic energy chief, Fadl Al Janabi, and air force commander Marshal Hussein Zein.

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