Homeland Security: Protecting Airliners from Terrorist Missiles (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised Feb. 16, 2006 |
| Report Number |
RL31741 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Christopher Bolkcom t, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division; and Bartholomew Elias, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
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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 called for the installation of missile defense
systems in all turbojet aircraft used in scheduled air carrier service. Homeland Security
appropriations designated $60 million in FY2004, $61 million in FY2005, and $110 million in
FY2006 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, 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.
