ARIE EGOZI / TEL AVIV
Move follows warning of imminent threat to passenger jets
After a warning that man-portable air defence missiles (manpads) could be used against aircraft "at any moment", the Israeli government has allocated 40 million Israeli Sheqels ($9 million) to equip between seven and 10 Israeli passenger aircraft with the Elta Flight Guard missile countermeasures system as soon as possible. The decision was announced by prime minister Ariel Sharon after reports from the ministers of defence, finance, transport and from anti-terrorism experts.
US Senator Barbara Boxer and Representative Steve Israel have renewed their call to Congress to expedite legislation requiring missile countermeasures to be installed in US commercial aircraft. This follows an attempt by an arms dealer to smuggle an SA-18 missile into the USA after the FBI set up a "customer" to trap a supplier. Israeli security experts say the attempt proves that terror groups are trying to improve their ability to target passenger aircraft.
Israel wants even faster action. Sharon demanded an immediate solution for some of Israel's commercial aircraft even though Flight Guard - a flare-based system - is not as effective against more sophisticated heat-seeking manpads as fellow Israeli company Rafael's Britening directional jamming system, still under development.
Dr Udi Ganani, president of Israel Military Industries, which developed the special flares, says the system can be installed in a short time. Flight Guard's "smart" flares can create false targets for missile types known to be in the hands of terrorists, and have been used extensively by the Israeli air force.
Israeli security experts say over 20 terror organisations have acquired shoulder-launched missiles. These may be used against aircraft "any moment", one told Sharon.
Flight Guard was picked because it is almost ready for installation and, says Elta, the process of US Federal Aviation Administration certification has begun. Elta claims the flares pose no hazard over airports, but there is no certainty the FAA and other agencies will accept this.
Airline organisations are reacting cautiously to the presence of an increased security threat, reinforced last week by British Airways' suspension of services to Saudi Arabia. The International Air Transport Association says it is for governments to determine the threat, and take appropriate measures. The US Air Transport Association's president, James May, says: "Before embarking on the deployment of anti-missile defence systems...the Administration is advocating careful study of the effectiveness of this untested technology and the exploration of alternative solutions."ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY DAVID LEARMOUNT IN LONDON
Source: Flight International
