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US airline industry doubts anti-missile technology

Posted on: Wednesday, 20 July 2005, 17:14 CDT

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Anti-missile technology to be tested on U.S. airliners will not protect all aircraft from all types of missiles and is not worth the massive investment, the airline industry's chief lobbyist said on Wednesday.

James May, chief executive of the Air Transport Association, sharpened his criticism of government efforts to try and refine military technology for potential use on commercial planes.

"All the reports I have seen indicate that it is not fully effective against those missiles that it is designed to defeat, and there are a number of missiles it is simply incapable of defeating," May told reporters at a media roundtable.

One report cited by the trade group, which represents the biggest U.S. airlines, was completed by the Rand Corp. earlier this year. The report questioned the reliability of systems under development and said it was not cost-effective to spend up to $40 billion over 20 years to develop, install and maintain them on up to 6,800 commercial planes.

In a letter to White House homeland security adviser Frances Townsend last week, May said the bill could reach $100 billion. "If you look at the relative threat involved it's simply not worth that kind of investment," May said.

The Homeland Security Department stressed it has not decided whether to recommend missile protection for airliners, although congressional lawmakers are pressing for a requirement.

Homeland security officials say they have made progress and plan to tell Congress in early 2006 whether the option is feasible after testing is completed. The tests will address cost, reliability and other concerns.

"Homeland security is committed to delivering rigorous testing and evaluation data to decision makers next year because that is what can best support a robust national discussion," department spokesman Donald Tighe said.

Rep. John Mica, a Florida Republican and chairman of the House of Representatives aviation subcommittee, has said at a minimum the biggest and newest planes should be protected. Mica has been outspoken for anti-missile protection to help respond to ongoing Sept. 11-style threats to aviation.

Mica has proposed anti-missile systems for the Airbus A380, which can seat up to 800 people and is scheduled for delivery next year, and the Boeing Co. 787, its newest model that will seat up to 250 passengers.

Northrop Grumman Corp. and BAE Systems PLC are poised next month to test different on-board laser jamming prototypes on cargo and commercial planes, working with FedEx Corp., Northwest Airlines, and American Airlines.

May said there was a "real gap" between what proponents want and what is realistic, and said in his letter to Townsend that more precise analysis of risks, costs, and options is necessary.

"There may be other techniques and technologies that address (missile) concerns at more reasonable expenditure levels," May wrote.

Rand recommended tighter security around airports and design modifications that would help aircraft withstand a missile strike. Raytheon Co. has proposed a ground-based system at airports armed with laser technology to disrupt missile flight.

Source: REUTERS

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