FOOLS TERRORIST MISSILES LASER DEVICE MAY PROTECT JETS FROM ATTACKS.Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer MOJAVE - A Northrop Grumman-led team on Wednesday unveiled a jetliner fitted with a prototype laser device that could be used soon to protect passenger jets from terrorist missile attacks. Built under a $45 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security Noun 1. Department of Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States , the system called ``Guardian'' was shown off to the news media at Mojave Airport, where initial flight tests are wrapping up on the modified Federal Express MD-11 jetliner. ``This program is not about proving the technology. It's about making it commercially viable,'' said John Stanfill, Northrop Grumman's director of infrared countermeasures This article is about missile counter measures. For IRCMonitor, see Wikipedia:IRCMonitor. Infrared countermeasures (IRCM) are devices designed to protect aircraft from infrared homing ("heat seeking") missiles by confusing the missiles' infrared commercial programs. Similar technology has been in use by the military since 2000. However, there are a number of challenges to making the system practical for commercial airlines, including reducing maintenance. Military systems require maintenance after a few hours of flying, something that is not practical in a commercial operation, officials said. Mounted in a pod on the jet's belly are four sensors that can detect an approaching missile. An infrared camera tracks the approaching missile, and a laser signal is beamed at the missile to confuse its heat-seeking guidance system and decoy DECOY. A pond used for the breeding and maintenance of water-fowl. 11 Mod. 74, 130; S. C. 3 Salk. 9; Holt, 14 11 East, 571. it away from the jetliner. ``We introduce a guidance signal that rapidly turns the missile away,'' said Jack Pledger PLEDGER. The same as pawner. (q.v.) , Northrop Grumman's director of business development for infrared countermeasure coun·ter·meas·ure n. A measure or action taken to counter or offset another one. countermeasure Noun action taken to counteract some other action Noun 1. . The system is being developed under a Department of Homeland Security effort to find ways to protect jets from shoulder-launched missiles that the federal government says have been acquired by at least 27 terrorist groups. The department wants to create a system that would cost under $1 million an aircraft. Interest in pursuing a protective system surged after a November 2002 attack against an Israeli jetliner, in which two shoulder-launched missiles were fired as it was taking off from an airport in Kenya. That aircraft escaped serious damage. About a year later, a cargo jetliner was damaged by a missile while taking off from an airport in Baghdad. The Northrop Grumman-led team, which includes Federal Express and Northwest Airlines, is one of two teams awarded $45 million contracts by the Department of Homeland Security to develop prototypes. The other team is led by BAE Systems BAE Systems British manufacturer of aircraft, missiles, avionics, naval vessels, and other aerospace and defense products. BAE Systems was formed (1999) from the merger of British Aerospace (BAe) with Marconi Electronic Systems. , which is planning to conduct its first flight test today in Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas, 18th-largest city in the United States[1], and voted one of "America’s Most Livable Communities. . The MD-11 recently completed airworthiness air·wor·thy adj. air·wor·thi·er, air·wor·thi·est Being in fit condition to fly: an airworthy helicopter; airworthy avionics. certification, meaning it is safe to fly with the pod modifications. The aircraft will be flown in a few days to Eglin Air Force Base Eglin Air Force Base is the home of the United States Air Force 96th Air Base Wing of the Air Force Materiel Command, and is also headquarters for more than 45 associate units. in Florida for tests into how well the system works against missile threats. A second aircraft, a Boeing 747, will be outfitted with the equipment and will fly in early 2006. Initial flight testing will likely occur in Mojave, program officials said. Congress has allocated $110 million to continue the program. The next phase will see the technology placed onto a handful of actual commercial jetliners. ``We want to look at 'real world' issues,'' Stanfill said. ``We want to turn it over to the real users to see how they like it.'' In addition to detecting threats and protecting the aircraft, the system will also notify authorities on the ground that a missile has been fired. The system has automated monitoring systems to aid in maintenance. ``This system is like 'E.T.' - it phones home once a day on its health status,'' Stanfill said. Jim Skeen, (661) 267-5743 james.skeen(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1 -- color) John D. Stanfill of Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is an aerospace and defense conglomerate that is the result of the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company is the third largest defense contractor for the U.S. shows the new Guardian system that will detect and redirect re·di·rect tr.v. re·di·rect·ed, re·di·rect·ing, re·di·rects To change the direction or course of. n. A redirect examination. re incoming terrorist missiles. (2 -- color) The Guardian system is being tested on a Fed Ex MD-11 at the Mojave Airport. (3 -- 4) The new Guardian system, mounted under a Fed Ex MD-11, above, will detect and redirect missiles fired by shoulder-held rocket launchers like the one shown by Jack Pledger of Northrop Grumman, below. Similar launchers are being used by terrorists. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion