Israel Aircraft Industries subsidiary Elta and Israel Military Industries (IMI), have teamed to pursue quick certification of the Flight Guard missile countermeasures system for passenger aircraft. This programme was launched after the 28 November 2002 firing of a shoulder-launched heat-seeking missile at an Arkia Boeing 757 at Mombasa, Kenya.
The two companies will work jointly with the FAA and the Israeli civil aviation authority (ICAA) aiming for certification in early 2004. The ICAA has begun the Flight Guard certification process, which would allow Israeli airlines to use the system. Although the ICAA has been co-ordinating the process with the FAA, it will not automatically ensure FAA certification but will facilitate future approval.
The Flight Guard system is based on a set of directional sensors that activate dispensers of special safe flares made by IMI.
Source: Flight International