[BlatherNaut]

I mean they might have that capability FOR YEARS

Nothing new.

http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/asmp/MANPADS.html

[gaijin]

Your link only overviewed MANPADS up to the SA-18 model and did not include the SA-24, which locks on in just 3 seconds or so and generally will not be deceived by countermeasures as simple as flares and chaff.

But even if it had, if we had knowledge that 15,000 samples of MANPADS as old as the SA-7 were in the hands of AQ, then that instead would be news, and it would be very bad news.