Passenger jets get anti-missile devices

[flashl]

Source: USA TODAY

By Mimi Hall

WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands of airline passengers will soon be flying on jets outfitted with anti-missile systems as part of a new government test aimed at thwarting terrorists armed with shoulder-fired projectiles.

Three American Airlines Boeing 767-200s that fly daily round-trip routes between New York and California will receive the anti-missile laser jammers this spring, according to the Department of Homeland Security, which is spending $29 million on the tests.

Jets will fly with the jammer device mounted on the belly of the plane, between the wheels. The device works with sensors, also mounted on the plane, that detect a heat-seeking missile and shoot a laser at it to send the missile veering harmlessly off course.

Anti-missile systems have been tested on cargo planes. But "this is the first time these systems have been tested on actual passenger airlines in commercial service," says Burt Keirstead, director of commercial aircraft protection at BAE Systems, which developed the anti-missile device. "It's the ultimate consumer use of the equipment."

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-04-anti-missile-jets_N.htm

[TexasLawyer]

1. If I lived near an airport I'd be nervous about this

since the RPGs would likely be fired at planes from relatively close range when the planes are landing or taking off, and not when the planes are 35,000 feet in the air.

If the device will shoot a laser at the RPG "to send the missile veering harmlessly off course" I'd be worried that the "harmlessly off course" missile would hit my house or apartment complex. Many airports are nestled in some fairly urban areas. And Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.? A "harmlessly off course" missile could take out a national landmark.

Might the "harmlessly off course" missile also possibly hit the airport terminal?

Possibly good for the plane, but possibly bad for the bystanders.

[Angleae]

4. This system does nothing to RPGs.

RPGs are unguided rockets and the laser doesn't have enough power to detonate the warhead.

[DavidMS]

7. IIRC, most ordinance has a timmer

to detonate it a specific length of time after the launch. So the SA18 would veer off course and detonate in mid air, there would be a minor danger of falling missile bits. This would not affect laser guided or radar guided missiles, only cheap and common MANPADS that rely on the heat of the target and do not have the suitable hardware/software combination to resists jamming.

[Demeter]

2. Please Tell Me This Is An Early April Fools!

Detroit Metro flies its planes right over my house most days, and I'm 20 miles away.

[TexasLawyer]

3. I had to laugh at this comment on the USA Today site

Stratplayer wrote: 7m ago

Come on people, throw me a bone here. All I ask for is a 767 with frickin' laser beams attatched to it. Come on What do I pay you people for. (When did Doctor Evil take over Homeland security?)

[Angleae]

5. Airlines have had this option for years

It was one of the recommendations after 9/11 along with reingforced cockpit doors and cameras in the passenger cabin so the pilot could see what was going on. The airlines only put in the door and only because of a FAA mandate. The airlines will only put these other systems in if the FAA mandates it or they are free (and they are very expensive).

[damntexdem]

6. How are they doing on anti-snake devices?

I actually saw that movie on TV recently. Hilarious!

[OKthatsIT]

8. BOEING jets have high explosives in their door/frames.

There's a law suit going on right now over it.

[hack89]

9. I have never heard that before

do you have a link?