Worldwide media continue to talk about the tragic "accident" in which 298 people lost their lives. The dynamics are still shrouded in mystery, but is there a possible countermeasure to prevent tragedies like the one that occurred for the Malaysia Airlines flight?
This is also the question raised by FoxNews, citing sources from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and focusing on the protection of aircraft from potential missile attacks. Meanwhile, a figure for all: since the flight has existed, more than a dozen airliners have been shot down by missiles.
One answer could be the 'Sky Shield', a new Israeli system that would have already proved its effectiveness by protecting an El Airlines Boeing 737 in some realistic tests. The Sky Shield deflects the missiles "confusing them". The commercial version of the Sky Shield and its integrated device called Multi-Special Infrared Countermeasure device (C-MUSIC), have been so successful that it will be used on Israeli commercial aircraft.
C-MUSIC is installed on the belly of an airplane. The integration of laser technology with thermal cameras allows the C-MUSIC to quickly detect incoming missiles and divert their trajectory by disturbing their driving system.
The US Air Force to protect cargo and tankers currently uses technology called Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures Systems.
The Air Force One (pictured), a heavily modified Boeing 747 carrying the US president, presumably has a similar missile defense device. But if on the one hand the possible countermeasures exist, on the other it is practically impossible to install them on all the private aircraft on the planet. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or MIT the problem is technological (as well as economic). No airline would spend billions of dollars on effective countermeasures to counter a rocket launcher like the Buk M-1 (the same one the missile that shot down Flight 17 started from), but current cheap technology could be used to protect aircraft against shoulder-fired missiles in search of shoulder heat: a much more common threat.
According to the CIA, numerous rebel groups have raided military deposits in Iraq and stolen dozens of Man-portable air-defense systems, shoulder-mounted short-range missile systems. But still according to the MIT the aeronautical industry does not pose the problem of protection, because most American airlines do not fly over war zones. Northrop Grumman has also developed its own defense missile system, known as the "Guardian". It has been successfully installed on a variety of MD-11 aircraft.
The company says that "the system provides protection to 360 grades against a wide range of missile threats. When the Guardian detects a MANPADS, it follows the incoming missile, then directs a laser beam at the missile's guidance system, blinding it." The entire process takes two / five seconds and requires no action on the part of the aircraft crew ". The Guardian system includes a multiband laser pointer / tracker and an alarm sensor. The system is contained in a single pod installed on the lower part of the fuselage. The system weighs around 550 kilos and just protrudes 18 centimeters from the aircraft's line.
The Missile Defense Act Commercial Airline was introduced by Congress in the 2003, to reverse public funding to cover the costs of missile deterrence systems for American airliners. The bill provides for the installation of an electronic system that (A) identifies the threat of an incoming missile, (B) identifies the source of the threat and (C) interrupts the incoming missile guidance system.
Although Congress has decided to do so, to date there is no need to impose such protection on all airliners.
Franco Iacch
(photo: US Air Force)
