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FedEx Asks FAA to Let It Install Anti-Missile Lasers on Its Cargo Planes
gizmodo ^

Posted on 01/14/2022 6:06:21 PM PST by algore

With the right military equipment, a single person can target a plane from three miles away using a heat-seeking missile. While such a nightmare is a rare occurrence, FedEx has applied to the FAA seeking approval to install a laser-based, anti-missile defense system on its cargo planes as an added safety measure.

Military planes carry flares that can be remotely ignited and ejected by a pilot to throw off a heat-seeking missile’s targeting system with an alternate heat source, while the plane itself performs evasive maneuvers in an attempt to fool the incoming projectile.

Those countermeasures are less effective for larger aircraft, however, with larger heat signatures as a result of multiple jet engines under each wing, and considerably less maneuverability than a fighter jet. An alternative solution is the use of a device that fires an infrared laser directly at an incoming missile in an attempt to disrupt its ability to track the aircraft’s heat signature.

FedEx’s request to the Federal Aviation Administration, filed on Jan. 4, didn’t come completely out of left field, however. In 2008, the company worked with Northrop Grumman to test its anti-missile laser-based defense systems on 12 of the shipping company’s cargo planes for over a year.

At the time, Northrop Grumman announced that its “system is ready to be deployed on civilian aircraft,” although no commercial orders had been placed at the time, according to a company spokesperson. That may have changed, however.

In the application document, which is “scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Jan. 18,” FedEx cites “several incidents abroad” where “civilian aircraft were fired upon by man-portable air defense systems” which are nearly impossible to detect given their range of operation, but undoubtedly a serious threat when operating aircraft in some parts of the world.

(Excerpt) Read more at gizmodo.com ...


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: fedex
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To: HighSierra5

You would think a civilian airliner would be a better, more likely terror target. What are they carrying or anticipating carrying that might make them a target?


21 posted on 01/14/2022 8:52:12 PM PST by ThunderSleeps (Biden/Harris - illegitimate and everyone knows it.)
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To: algore

How many Stingers did Jao and Millie Vanillie leave the Talibunnies?


22 posted on 01/14/2022 8:53:11 PM PST by 43north (Its hard to stop a man when he knows he's right and he keeps on comin'.)
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To: algore

There was the joke some decades back where a gentleman is being interviewed about the violence in some big city. The exchange includes something like:

“No, I don’t think it’s that bad at all. I haven’t noticed a spike in violence.”

“What do you do for a living, Sir?”

“I’m a door gunner on a bakery truck.”


23 posted on 01/15/2022 3:29:49 AM PST by jimfree (My 19 y/o granddaughter continues to have more quality exec experience than Joe Biden.)
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To: algore

How very interesting.

I have a cousin who just retired as a pilot with the Maine Air national Guard (the “Maineiacs”). Guess who hired him? FedEx. I wonder what he thinks about this?


24 posted on 01/16/2022 7:48:29 AM PST by hoagy62 (DTCM&OTTH)
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To: metmom

I used to work at HQ. You’d be surprised.


25 posted on 01/20/2022 11:53:53 AM PST by HeadOn (Love God. Lead your family. Be a man.)
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To: HeadOn

That’s what I’m concerned about.


26 posted on 01/20/2022 1:25:00 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
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To: metmom

Well, don’t worry too much. Out of our hands.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7


27 posted on 01/21/2022 9:59:43 AM PST by HeadOn (Love God. Lead your family. Be a man.)
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

I doubt they're doing this just to spend money. Time to bring armed railroad detectives in LA too.

28 posted on 01/21/2022 10:36:58 AM PST by SJackson (I just think COVID is God's gift to the left, Jane Fonda)
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To: metmom

yep...my first thought too

What’s happening that we have not heard about yet.


29 posted on 01/21/2022 10:38:40 AM PST by EBH (Hold My Beer. 1776-2021 May God Save Us.)
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To: HeadOn

Very true.

I keep reminding myself that when it seems like things are falling apart, they are actually falling into place.


30 posted on 01/21/2022 11:22:38 AM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
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To: metmom

“actually falling into place”

And the people who ought to fear THAT are not even aware of it. Keep telling - We’ve got lots of work to do!

God Bless, and have a great weekend.


31 posted on 01/21/2022 1:58:11 PM PST by HeadOn (Love God. Lead your family. Be a man.)
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To: algore

Must be them darn Amish white supremacists FedEx is afraid of.


32 posted on 01/23/2022 1:53:11 PM PST by BTerclinger (MAGA! (See my FR page for links to MDs & RX for pre-hospital Covid treatment & prophylaxis).)
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To: metmom

Probably related to lower cost and more sophistication of such systems.

They usually scramble the guidance systems rather than blow up things. Very effective even against drone swarms.


33 posted on 01/23/2022 2:02:16 PM PST by jjotto ( Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
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To: algore

Have you ever had that dream where youre standing on top of a pyramid in sun god robes and there are thousands of naked women throwing those little pickles at you?


34 posted on 01/23/2022 2:08:34 PM PST by gnarledmaw (Hive minded liberals worship leaders, sovereign conservatives elect servants.)
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To: HeadOn

Amen!


35 posted on 01/23/2022 3:41:13 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
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To: gnarledmaw

No, but hopefully you told this story on Art Bell or the Snorry show so we can all get the podcast...


36 posted on 01/23/2022 7:46:11 PM PST by algore
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