As anti-aircraft shoulder missiles fall into the hands of terrorist organizations and guerrilla groups around the globe and threaten numerous planes, aircraft defense systems are constantly being developed. Earlier, what has the answer to this threat been? How can laser beams help? And what solutions are at the horizon?
As anti-aircraft shoulder missiles only become more sophisticated, threatened aircrafts must be equipped with latest and most sophisticated defense systems. Anti-aircraft missiles that different terrorist organizations around the globe hold of their possession threaten both military planes and civilian passenger aircrafts. Because of the, defense contractors all over are constantly developing new capabilities to cope with the ever-transforming threat.
One of the commonest how you can protect against missiles launched towards planes is thru a type of heat chaff emitted from the plane, generally called a “flare”. Since the anti-aircraft missile follows a heat source, the flare confuses it, causing it to advance in its direction, rather than continuing towards the plane. “These systems are always being upgraded”, explains Shabati Rabinowitz, head of the Self-Defense Division at Elta, which develops missile detection radar systems. “At the instant, we’re developing capabilities on planes to enhance the detection of certain missiles.
Despite the relative reliability of alternative flare systems, not all companies are in a hurry to put in then of their planes: on the subject of passenger aircrafts, emitting flares may prove to be too frightening for passengers and should also result in much confusion. Here is one of several reasons that lead the corporate Elop, from Elbit Systems, to develop the innovative “MUSIC” system, which deflects anti-aircraft missiles from their path using laser beams.
Much like flares, laser beams blind the missile and pull it towards them and faraway from the plane. Additionally, the system has an extra, hidden advantage: laser systems don’t disintegrate and there’s no concern that they’ll run out during a heavy barrage of missiles. Nonetheless, flare systems have a bonus over laser beams: a single flare is able to neutralizing quite a lot of missiles, unlike a laser beam, that’s only able to neutralizing one missile.
Coming Soon: “Windbreaker” for Planes
In spite of the advanced solutions proposed nowadays, the race for more technological, more reliable, and safer equipment never ends. “There is not any certainty that the systems that exist today may be ready to address future missiles, that allows you to be much more sophisticated”, Shabati Rabinowitz claims. In line with him, when terrorist organizations be able to get their hands on missiles which can be in a position to overwhelming defense systems that redirect missiles, systems, referred to as “hard protection”, and equipped with counter-ammunition designed to destroy missiles should be developed.
Much just like the “Windbreaker” system installed at the back of tanks, systems which are in a position to damaging missiles in midair might be installed on planes. “When it involves a future vision”, Rabinowitz points out that, in the intervening time, there aren’t any pending acquisitions for a system like this. “We see that this can be the direction the industry goes, and there are already companies that work on developing some sort of small missile or rocket so as to be added to the planes”, explains Rabinowitz. “Therefore, we’ve got stated investing within the research in this topic in order that we will develop it if it’s good to for radar…of this type.
“If need be, we will produce radar equipped with the capabilities within three or four years.”
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