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TOPICS
Contracts to shield planes from missiles are awarded
The Homeland Security Department has launched an 18-month program to evaluate technologies for protecting commercial aircraft against shoulder-fired missiles.
The department has awarded $7.4 million in contracts to L-3 Communications AVISYS, Northrop Grumman Space Technology and Raytheon Company to evaluate and demonstrate emerging technology for defeating man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS.
"Over the next 18 months, [Homeland Security] will work closely with the Department of Defense and these select vendors to assess the maturity and effectiveness of relevant technologies, application of resources to determine potential system approaches, and suitability in the civilian aviation environment," the department said in a statement.
Shoulder-fired missiles are relatively cheap and easily transported. The Government Accountability Office estimates that more than 800,000 shoulder-fired missiles exist worldwide, with at least two dozen terrorist groups known to possess them.
Some lawmakers have been outspoken the last few years over the threat the weapons pose to commercial airlines, noting, for example, that airplanes take off and land from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by flying at low altitude over an open public park.
Congress allocated $35 million in fiscal 2007 for "a comprehensive passenger-aircraft suitability assessment." The department has to brief congressional appropriators within two months on the expenditure plan for the assessment. Lawmakers urged the department "to include the passenger airline industry in the evaluation phase of this assessment."
Raytheon said it plans to offer its Vigilant Eagle Airport Protection System for the program. The technology works by steering a ground-based beam of electromagnetic energy at a missile, diverting the threat away from the targeted aircraft. In other words, the system does not have to be mounted on individual aircraft.
"Vigilant Eagle provides an invisible dome of protection around airports or airfields, offering all aircraft -- international and domestic commercial flights, as well as military and private planes -- protection from terrorist surface-to-air missiles," the company said in a statement.
Northrop Grumman has developed infrared anti-missile systems for U.S. Air Force C-17 transport jets. The technology is designed to knock incoming missiles off course. The company also recently won a contract to supply the Federal Aviation Administration with the systems. According to press reports, the Air Force wants FAA planes to be equipped because the service uses them overseas in areas such as Baghdad.
The Homeland Security contract to Raytheon is valued at $4.1 million, the contract to Northrop Grumman at $1.9 million, and the contract to L-3 at $1.4 million.
CORRECTION: This story incorrectly implied that Northrop Grumman will offer an infrared anti-missile system to counter the threat posed to commercial aircraft by shoulder-fired missiles. The company will offer its Skyguard ground-based high-energy laser and leverage work done on the Tactical High Energy Laser program, which has demonstrated its ability to shoot down targets.
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