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Anti-Missile Jammers on Commercial Jets
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ShareJanuary 04, 2008 11:17 AM
The friendly skies are about to become friendlier as tens of thousands of airline passengers will soon board jets outfitted with anti-missile systems, part of a new government security test to hinder terrorists armed with shoulder-to-air missiles, as reported in USA Today.
The $29 million tests by the Department of Homeland Security will equip three American Airlines Boeing 767-200s that fly daily round-trips between New York and California with "anti-missile laser jammers this spring."
Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
While no passenger jets flying over the U.S. have been taken down by shoulder-to-air missiles, it has been considered a threat, as has been previously reported by the ABC News Investigative Unit last year. In that report, at least 24 civilian aircraft worldwide had been brought down by shoulder-to-air missiles brought on the black market for just a few thousand dollars. More than 500 people had been killed.
In today's article, USA Today puts the price of a shoulder-to-air missile on the black market "for as little as a few hundred dollars."
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
January 4, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (13)
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Okay, so we make the planes tougher to shoot down. Once we make them virtually impossible to shoot down, how do we stop terrorists who manage to successfully hijack an airliner and plan to fly it into another building?
Posted by: Publius | Jan 4, 2008 11:27:40 AM
That's great and all... but shouldn't we be more concerned with stopping potential terrorists from coming into the country in the first place???
Posted by: Doug | Jan 4, 2008 11:50:29 AM
About time we started using some sophisticated tech to protect commercial aircraft. We "fought the cold war" for like 70 years...and nothing even close to 9-11 happened. The religious fanatics have already made the communists look like child's play...and they are not even started good yet.. soon as they get their hands on a Nuke..they will use it.
Posted by: Ralph | Jan 4, 2008 11:52:48 AM
Publis,
I don't dissagree with you totally but these days, if someone stands up on an airliner and says or even hints that they are trying to take the plane hostage, the rest of the passengers will beat the living crap out of them.
Nobody that fly's today, is under the delusion that if someone stands up to hijack them, that they will probably survive. I for one would much rather go down fighting then just sit around and wait for them to do what ever it is they want, and then I die. Screw that Hijack me, and I go bezerk on you.
Posted by: DC | Jan 4, 2008 6:35:08 PM
Minor correction:
TWA 800 was shot down over Long Island sound by a shoulder fired missle in 1996.
This shootdown was covered up by the Clintons so as to avoid jeopardizing the Clinton / Gore re-election bid.
Posted by: JD | Jan 5, 2008 5:38:48 PM
This technology is a must for airlines outside the U.S. Although it is easy to get drugs into this country, it is not so easy getting a shoulder fired missile launcher into this country. The weapon would have to be purchased here in order to use it here. With-in the continental U.S.A. this danger in not realistic but in other countries it is very well possible. The rest of the world needs to adopt this new feature on commercial and private planes. This is a big win for War Manufacturing Companies. Unfortunately these, terrorists can change a tactic on a whim. The other good news is At least hijackings are; over in this country, thanks to citizens and technology.
Posted by: AdeebN | Jan 6, 2008 9:51:46 AM
I am hoping IF we're really serious about this that the radar system that senses a missile attack are included. It would be a hollow feeling of safety if only the avoidance system and not the radar is used. I am a little suspect of that given the nominal price quoted for the entire package.
Posted by: MADZ | Jan 7, 2008 12:43:00 PM
TWA 800 might have been shot down by the US military in a mistake like they did in the Mediterranean and a passenger jet from Iran. They apologized to Iran but to TWA they might not have been able to admit that one. The military industrial complex will not be stopped and adding these to jetliners is big money and aids the FEAR party, the republicans.
Posted by: daddyblue | Jan 7, 2008 1:00:48 PM
Excellent, it's about time. This is a key component in multiple tactics to defeat terrorism. US Air Marshalls on the planes protect inside, this protects outside. Simultaneously we are trying to prevent Manpads being snuck inside, while trying to fight the source of the terrorists and taking out the source of the missile supply! It's not one or the other, guys, it's all at once, don't be short sighted!
Posted by: Joelhar | Jan 7, 2008 4:42:56 PM
Oh, boy,
Clinton, Clinton, Clinton. Ignorant wingnuts can't stop. More money for the arms manufacturers. Stupid Americans need to live in war induced poverty for a while.
Posted by: Michael D. Adams | Jan 7, 2008 5:23:07 PM
THESE COUNTRY COULD NOT GET ANYMORE
STUPID THAN IT ALREADY IS...WHEN IS THE MEDIA GOING TO STOP TELLING EVERYTHING ON THE NEWS.MY GOD U MIGHT AS WELL SEND A MEMO TO AL QUEADEA TELLING THEM WHEN WE GET BOMB PROVE AND IDOIT PROVE AS WELL.....
Posted by: DEREK | Jan 8, 2008 1:50:59 AM
THE EFFECTIVE RANGE OF A GGSHAS IS ONLY 2500 YARDS UNDER BEST CONDITIONS. SEE AFGAHN/RUSSIA CONFLICT. NOTE THE ABILITY AT LOW ALT (7500FT) OF 737 ADVOIDANCE MANUVER. AN IDIOT WITH A ROCK AT THE APPROACH OF A RUNWAY HAS THE SAME ABILITY SEE VIETNAM/USA KIDS THROWING ROCKS DOWNS MARINE HELIOS AS TACTICS... NOW WHAT? A KID DETECTORS....... LOL
Posted by: DOK | Jan 10, 2008 11:49:03 AM
The system is for when the US will overfly and/or land Airliners at currently hostle nations. Afganistan, Iraq, etc.
Besides, if the thing does work it may not matter as when a rock/missle explodes close enough to the target airliner, it would cripple it enough to bring it down anyway.
Airliners are not military aircraft (not that much different in construction)
Posted by: WayOutInLeftField | Feb 1, 2008 1:50:30 PM
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