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Summary:
Recent events have focused attention on the threat that terrorists with shoulder
fired surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), referred to as Man-Portable Air Defense
Systems (MANPADS), pose to commercial airliners. Most believe that no single
solution exists to effectively mitigate this threat. Instead, a menu of options may be
considered, including installing infrared (IR) countermeasures on aircraft; modifying
flight operations and air traffic control procedures; improving airport and regional
security; and strengthening missile non-proliferation efforts. Equipping aircraft with
missile countermeasure systems can protect the aircraft even when operating in areas
where ground-based security measures are unavailable or infeasible to implement.
However, this option has a relatively high cost, between $1 million and $3 million
per aircraft, and the time needed for implementation does not allow for immediate
response to the existing terrorist threat. Procedural improvements such as specific
flight crew training, altering air traffic procedures to minimize exposure to the threat,
and improved security near airports may be less costly than countermeasures and
could more immediately help deter domestic terrorist attacks. However, these
techniques by themselves cannot completely mitigate the risk of domestic attacks and
would not protect U.S. airliners flying to and from foreign airports.
Legislation introduced in the 108th Congress (H.R. 580, S. 311) calls for the
installation of missile defense systems in all turbojet aircraft used in scheduled air
carrier service. While this legislation is still under consideration, Homeland Security
appropriations designated $60 million in FY2004 and $61 million in FY2005 to fund
a program to develop and test prototype missile countermeasure systems for
commercial aircraft based on existing military technology. It is anticipated that at the
conclusion of this program, in January 2006, the Department of Homeland Security
will be able to provide a detailed analysis of the suitability of such systems for use
to protect commercial passenger aircraft.
This report will be updated as needed.
