Israeli Airliners To Get Missile Defense
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By Graham Warwick
Israeli airliners are to be equipped with laser anti-missile defenses, after the Ministry of Transportation awarded Elbit Systems a $76 million contract to supply C-Music directed infrared countermeasures (Dircm) systems.
A countermeasures system dispensing decoy flares was fitted on commercial Israeli airliners following the attempt to shoot down an Arkia Boeing 757 at Mombasa, Kenya, in 2002 (DAILY, Dec. 16, 2002). The laser system, which jams infrared seekers, is more effective against newer surface-to-air missiles.
The U.S. has tested commercial Dircm units from BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman in revenue service on airliners flown by American Airlines and FedEx Express, but the departments of Defense and Homeland Security so far see no need to equip U.S. commercial aircraft, even those carrying cargo and personnel into Iraq and Afghanistan.
C-Music is a commercial derivative of Elbit subsidiary El-Op’s Music system, developed to protect military helicopters from missile attack. The system comprises a missile warning sensor, a thermal camera to acquire and track the target, and a fiber laser that generates the jamming beam.
U.S. restrictions of the export of Dircm equipment are opening the door to a partnership between El-Op and Italy’s Elettronica to offer the fiber-laser system to airlines or for VIP aircraft. Flight trials of the system are due this year, and a bid to the Italian air force is likely.
Photo: Boeing
