JERUSALEM — Israel plans to install a missile warning system on several of its
passenger jets.
Officials said the Transportation Ministry has approved a project to
install missile alert and countermeasures systems on jets from the
state-owned El Al Airlines. They identified the system as Flight Guard, said
to cost $1 million.
In 2002, an Israeli passenger jet escaped an Al Qaida missile attack
over Kenya. The operatives were said to have fired two SA-7 surface-to-air
missiles, Middle East Newsline reported.
Yitzhak Raz, a ministry official, said installation of Flight Guard has
begun. Raz said Flight Guard, based on a military system, would be installed
on six passenger jets that fly to areas deemed as high risk.
Raz said the passenger jets that employed Flight Guard would fly to
countries where Al Qaida was believed to be active. On Dec. 1, the system,
developed by Israel Aircraft Industries in a $4.5 million project, passed
its final test.
The United States has refused to certify Flight Guard, based on black
flares, for civilian aircraft. Israel has also financed the development of a
laser system to protect against man-portable air defense systems.
