Proposals to protect commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired missiles have been submitted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by eight defense contractors, The Washington Post reported last Friday. However, officials at the DHS seemed skeptical that any system would be effective and affordable. “We are in the process of determining if in fact there is a viable technology that could be deployed on commercial aircrafts,” said Brian Roehrkasse, a DHS spokesman, according to the Post. The proposals will be studied this year, and prototypes could be developed starting next year. Possibilities include lasers that jam the missile guidance systems and sensors that would detect an incoming missile and eject metal wafers to confuse the weapon, the Post reported.
Proposals Weighed On Missile Defense
Key Takeaways:
- Eight defense contractors have submitted proposals to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for systems to protect commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired missiles.
- DHS officials are skeptical about the effectiveness and affordability of the proposed anti-missile technologies.
- The proposals, which include laser jamming and sensor/chaff systems, will be studied this year, with prototypes potentially developed starting next year.
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