[freeperfromnj]

You may find this story of interest. Just appeared a couple of weeks ago in both this publication and the LA Times. It seems that Northrup Grumman just unveiled a missile defense system designed for commercial airliners. Reading between the lines, one can assume that there have been threats or attempts made involving LAX in particular.

Northrop unveils airliner defense system against missile attack

Northrop Grumman Corp. has unveiled a system attached under an airliner to protect from possible missile attacks, in a move to spur public support for equipping commercial airplanes with missile defense systems.

The equipment would work by emitting a laser beam that would jam the guidance system of a shoulder-fired missile, a Los Angeles Times report said Thursday.

According to the report, the Los Angeles-based defense industrial group put the 6-foot-long canoe-shaped device on display last week at Mojave Airport.

Recent reports of criminals attempting to smuggle shoulder- fired missiles into the United States have renewed attention on efforts by the US Department of Homeland Security to protect airlines from portable surface-to-air missiles.

Amid intensified debate over the necessity of onboard defensive systems, domestic airlines, already financially strapped, are balking at moves to equip their jets with such systems, which could cost up to 1 million dollars per plane.

The Department of Homeland Security has warned of the widespread availability of portable weapons and that terrorists could use them to shoot down jetliners.

"Airplanes approaching LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) are particularly vulnerable because they are flying over mountains "as they descend, the report quoted Jack Pledger, head of the Northrop unit that developed the system, as saying....

http://english.people.com.cn/200511/18/eng20051118_222223.html

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you for the report on the new weapon to stop missiles.

Yes, LAX would be a likely target, if the the plane crashed in many of the area's it would harm more people than just the people on the plane.

I would thnink that Denver is another target and of course other areas that I have not been to, so don't know what the surrounding area is like.

Much of the west, has hills around the airports, it would not be difficult to hide in the brush on them.

And all the coasts are within reach of a boat.

The key factor that we often forget, is that death to the terrorist is a welcome event, so chances are taken.