Protect Airliners From Missile Attacks Print Page The report that arms dealers are trying to sell portable anti-aircraft missiles to terrorists is bad news for the nation's struggling airlines, but the danger can no longer be ignored ("Missile intended to shoot down jet," News, Wednesday). There are several ways to cope with the danger, but the most reliable is to adapt "countermeasures" equipment developed for military aircraft. For example, Air Force C-17 transports are being equipped with a low-cost laser system that can disable heat-seeking missiles in less than a second. It should be possible to install such equipment on widebody airliners for less than the cost of an in-flight entertainment system. That still adds up to billions of dollars for the commercial air fleet, money the airlines don't have. But the cost has to be balanced against the much bigger economic impact that would result from an airline shutdown brought on my terrorist missile attacks. The only sensible course is for the federal government to foot the bill; otherwise, those long lines at airport security checkpoints are just going to encourage a different kind of danger. Copyright © Lexington Institute. All rights reserved. |