World Tribune.com

Firm markets anti-missile system for U.S. passenger jets

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, July 6, 2005

Israel has found a U.S. partner to market a missile warning and protection system for passenger jets.

Israel Aircraft Industries has signed an agreement with Aviation Protection Systems to market the Flight Guard defense system, Middle East Newsline reported.

Executives said the agreement with Aviation Protection would grant the U.S. company exclusive rights in the United States. They said Aviation Protection has established an office in Miami and began marketing Flight Guard to a range of companies.

Flight Guard employs Pulse-Doppler radar to detect incoming missiles.

When a missile is detected, the system fires dark flares to divert the projectiles away from the aircraft. Dark flares have been deemed environmentally safe with low visibility and were said to be an enhanced model of those flares used to protect military aircraft.

Under the deal, Aviation Protection would market, install and maintain the Flight Guard in the United States.

The Flight Guard has been developed by IAI subsidiary, Elta Electronic Systems, as well as Israel Military Industries. Executives said the system, employed by a dozen customers for commercial and military aircraft, protects against man-portable surface-to-air missiles.

"Military aircraft have successfully used this technology in Israel and around the world for many years," IMI chairman Arie Mizrachi said.

"Unfortunately, the rising tide of global terrorism today has thrust commercial aviation into a combat environment."

Executives said Aviation Protection would provide U.S. customers with Flight Guard installation, training, logistics and maintenance. The company was also seeking certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to enable marketing to U.S. airliners.

"We have a proven, reliable solution to the MANPADS threat available today," Aviation Protection director Omar Regev, a former Israel Air Force pilot, said. "We look forward to the opportunity to provide this valuable solution to commercial and private aircraft in the United States."


Copyright © 2005 East West Services, Inc.

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