Experts: Arkia Airliner saved by secret defence systems

Ha'aretz Daily ^ | 29/11/02 | Roni Singer

[the_second_moon]

This is my translation from Ha'aretz Hebrew edition:

Weapon experts and intelligence sources claimed today that it was secret defence systems installed on the Arkia airliner, not luck, that saved the passengers.

The Boeing managed to escape from two heat seeking missiles after it took off Mombasa airfield.

"Israel work on plans to defend civilian ariliners from terror attacks since the 70s", told today Igal Eyal from the Hebrew University and a former intelligence agent. "the Mombasa incident looks like a successful implementation of amti-missile technology"

[SauronOfMordor]

I would think they would be green or sand camo-colored.

Isn't blue how they color dummy training rounds?

[cebadams]

[freepersup]

Thank you. Anyone know what that "cannister" is / is for ?

[Squantos]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/797885/posts?page=21#21

Stay Safe !

[Terriergal]

Is there some kind of jamming device they could have used on the missiles?

[Cold Heat]

Some sort of thermal battery, I believe.

[Squantos]

They self destruct at the end of their range/envelope about 15 seconds after firing . Just as a PG-7 series will at 913 meters give or take an inch.

Stay Safe !

[Cold Heat]

a reloadable gripstock (9P54 & 9P54M), and a thermal battery (9B17).

Here, in the write up thqat I posted.

[Cold Heat]

thqat=that.....(I need a drink!)

[freepersup]

At first, this attempt to down said aircraft sounded like a bumbling attempt by a couple of real Einsteins. After seeing the missiles, I have an expanded appreciation for the aircraft's defense systems (if installed), and realize what a close call this was. Russian military weapons manufacturing philosophy has been to build on the cheap, and then to build huge numbers of whatever weapons are part of their armamnet supply doctrine. Gives pause to think how many of these launchers are in circulation. Ugly.

[Cold Heat]

Flares are the best counter-measure for a thermal targeting device. There are some other methods.

According to the article on this missile, it is prone to confusion regarding the radiant heat from the ground. The plane was taking off. The launcher has no radar to trigger any kind of protection, and the time element was too short for the planes radar to pick up a missile and deploy any counter-measures.IMHO.

[freepersup]

Good catch- thermal battery it is- the ole 9B17

The rechargeable grip stock explains the blue tube vs the OD green grip stock. Either the blue is inert (training) or NATO blue (or perhaps another Warsaw state). Perhaps the launcher was fired and now sports the replaced rechargeable grip stock. ? Would the grip stock contain the booster propellant ? Rechargeable... ?

sic-armament

[cebadams]

That was my thought too. These missiles function at real low altitude. Reaction time and counter measures probably didn't come into play even if the plane was so equiped (although I have not heard that it was).

[Cold Heat]

I believe the thud was the missile timing out, and exploding harmlessly.

[Cold Heat]

The booster would be in the missile. Similar to the U.S. LAW rocket. All the propellant burns before the thing leaves the tube. (no blast in the face, just don't stand behind it!)

Then the main motor lights up.

[Cold Heat]

I have no clue. I do know, that it takes power to launch the missile.

A thermal battery would be nice, so the shelf life would not depend on a battery holding a charge. It is likely, the warmth from your hand would be enough to create a voltage potential and fire the missile.

[freepersup]

Back Blast Area Clear ! (check six)

Good job team- we are getting the answers.

Next question- What "fires" in the rechargeable grip stock requiring a recharge ? Is it something mechanical and or ballistic, on the order of a fuse / firing pin ? (primer)

I am privileged to have fired a training LAW in basic and that's been it.

[Cold Heat]

Probably the primer charge, but I am just guessing. The article said re-loadable. That could mean many things. As in cocking or replacing a primer.

[steveegg]

Considering that the weapons used were SA-7s, I doubt that countermeasures were used. As others have pointed out, the SA-7 is only effective in a tail-chase, and your typical Boeing 7x7 aircraft doesn't have ANY visibility to the rear. Morever, the seeker on the SA-7 can be distracted by just about anything, and your typical civilian turbofan puts out a LOT less heat than your typical military jet engine.