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BAE Systems Awarded Contract To Evaluate Missile Defense System On US Passenger Aircraft
Nashua NH (SPX) Jan 07, 2008 BAE Systems has received a $29 million award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to test an infrared aircraft missile defense system on passenger aircraft. The tests will evaluate the system's compatibility with daily passenger airline operations and maintenance. The latest contract is for the third phase of the DHS counter-MANPADS program's research development activities. There will be no testing of the JETEYE(tm) system's missile-defeating capability, as that testing was done at government test ranges as part of an earlier phase of the program. As part of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) counter-man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) program, BAE Systems will install its JETEYE aircraft missile defense system on up to three American Airlines aircraft. The company will evaluate the system's compatibility with daily passenger airline operations and maintenance. "From the beginning, we actively engaged with U.S. cargo and passenger carriers to commercialize our technology to meet the needs of the airlines," said Burt Keirstead, director of commercial aircraft programs for BAE Systems. "We're confident that the passenger-aircraft phase of the program will provide valuable data for DHS's findings, providing critical, fact-based information to the airline industry and policy-makers." The JETEYE system is based on BAE Systems' existing directable infrared countermeasures technology, used to protect military aircraft. With this award, JETEYE will be the only system installed on military cargo and passenger aircraft. "American Airlines is pleased to continue its partnership with BAE Systems and is fully committed to supporting and participating in the passenger airline evaluation phase of the DHS's counter-MANPADS program," said Craig Barton, American Airlines managing director. "We believe this is a key step toward understanding the true impact of the technology and operational models on the airline industry. " DHS selected BAE Systems in 2004 to adapt the company's military countermeasures technology to protect commercial aircraft against shoulder-fired missiles. Since then, BAE Systems has received $105 million in funding, and has delivered more than 14,000 infrared countermeasure systems worldwide - more than all other participating companies combined. The counter-MANPADS program, created by DHS and Congress, is designed to commercialize proven military technology and gauge its suitability for protecting U.S. commercial aircraft by evaluating its performance, impact on aerodynamic drag, weight, reliability, maintainability, and system cost. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links The Long War - Doctrine and Application
Analysis: Al-Qaida in 2007 -- Part 2
Washington (UPI) Dec 27, 2007 It has been a mixed year for al-Qaida. Its franchise in Iraq looks increasingly isolated, and some U.S. observers are talking openly about it having been defeated; but in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the terror group has reconstituted itself into a global threat. |
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