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 ...
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?
How many Stingers did Jao and Millie Vanillie leave the Talibunnies?
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.”
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?
I used to work at HQ. You’d be surprised.
That’s what I’m concerned about.
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
I doubt they're doing this just to spend money. Time to bring armed railroad detectives in LA too.
yep...my first thought too
What’s happening that we have not heard about yet.
Very true.
I keep reminding myself that when it seems like things are falling apart, they are actually falling into place.
“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.
Must be them darn Amish white supremacists FedEx is afraid of.
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.
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?
Amen!
No, but hopefully you told this story on Art Bell or the Snorry show so we can all get the podcast...
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