- Flight Guard
Flight Guard is an infrared countermeasure for civilian aircraft, designed for protection against
anti-aircraft missile s. The system has been installed in aircraft of theEl Al , [cite news|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1540304&C=airwar|title= El Al Fits Fleet with Anti-Missile System|date=2006-02-16 |publisher= [http://www.defensenews.com defensenews.com] | first=Dan|last=Williams| accessdate=2007-10-24] [cite news|last=Vause|first=John|title=Missile defense for El Al fleet|publisher=CNN |date=Monday, May 24, 2004|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/24/air.defense/|accessdate=2007-11-30] Arkia and Israir fleets that fly to high risk destinations.Flight Guard was developed from the EL/M-2160 military systemcite news|url=http://israel21c.org/bin/en.jsp?enScript=PrintVersion.jsp&enDispWho=Articles%5El432|title= first self-protection system for commercial aircraft at Paris Air Show|date=
2003-06-15 | publisher= [http://www.israel21c.org israel21c.org] ] byIsraeli Aerospace Industries andElta after an attempt was made to shoot down anArkia Israel Airlines Boeing 757 inMombasa , Kenya in 2002. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2552097.stm|title=Kenyan police find Mombasa missiles|publisher=BBC News |date=2002-12-06 |accessdate=2007-10-24] It is specifically designed to defend low-flying aircraft againstMANPAD s, such as those utilized in the attack in Kenya. The automated system uses Elta'sdoppler radar to detect incoming missiles, before firing IAI-designed civilian flares todecoy incominginfrared -homed missiles.The system has proved controversial, with both the
FAA [cite news| url=http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Security/3556.htm| title=Missile-protected El Al planes may be banned from U.S. airports|date=2004-04-23 |publisher=israelinsider.com |accessdate=2007-10-25] and Switzerland raising fire hazard safety concerns. The Swiss have stated that any aircraft with the system installed will be grounded, despite uncovering a plot to down an El Al aircraft in that country [cite news|publisher=BBC News |title=Swiss 'foiled hit on Israeli jet'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5060936.stm|date=2006-06-08] ; other European countries have indicated that they might follow suit. [cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3221013,00.html|title=Europe objects to El Al's anti-missile shield| publisher=Ynetnews | last=Beck| first=Eldad| accessdate=2007-10-24|date=2006-02-26 ]Flight Guard is an intermediate system, as it will be superseded by a newer laser-based jamming system called Multi-Spectral Infrared Countermeasure (MUSIC) that does not use flares. Development of the new system will start in 2008. [cite news| url=http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/missiles/Israel_to_Fund_System_to_Protect_Commercial_Aircraft_from_Missiles160013744.php| title=Israel to Fund System to Protect Commercial Aircraft from Missiles| date=
2007-10-12 |publisher= [http://www.defensetalk.com defensetalk.com] ]References
ee also
*
CAMPS
*Northrop Grumman Guardian
*Directional Infrared Counter Measures
*2002 Mombasa hotel bombing - attack was co-ordinated with the shootdown attempt.
*List of airliner shootdown incidents External links
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W3e14lbt8k Flight Guard Promotional Video]
* [http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/aircraft/systems/flight_guard/Flight_Guard.htm Flight Guard] (Photographs and technical specifications)
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