El Al to install anti-missile system on passenger aircraft

Airline Industry Information, Nov 24, 2004

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Israeli national airline El Al is to install anti-missile systems on its passenger aircraft, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The 'Flight Guard' system can be attached to Boeing passenger aircraft and would release decoys if an onboard sensor detects a heat-seeking missile coming at the aircraft. The newspaper said that if the system proved successful six more aircraft would have the system installed.

El Al has always been one of the most security-conscious airlines and decided to invest in the system after one of its aircraft was fired on in Kenya in 2002 by a shoulder-held missile. Flight Guard has been developed by the state-owned Israel Military Industries with each system costing around USD1m, reports Reuters.

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