Israeli defence minister Shaul Mofaz has recommended the government finance the installation of countermeasures on Israeli passenger aircraft, to protect them from shoulder launched missiles.
The recommendation results from a study begun before the failed 28 November missile attack on an Arkia Boeing 757-300 taking off from Mombasa, but since hastily completed.
The recommendation passed to prime minster Ariel Sharon last week proposes that the state will allocate $40 million to equip 30 passenger aircraft - almost the whole international fleet - with protection systems to be produced in Israel. The study recognises the missile threat as imminent and that it will become more serious.
Meanwhile, the Israeli general security service has asked its counterparts in many countries to take special measures to protect Israeli aircraft from the missile attack threat.
Source: Flight International
