Homegrown jet defense system proves successful

Elbit says its new anti-missile system, designed for use on commercial aircraft, passed muster in tests

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli defense technology company says it has successfully tested an anti-missile system designed to protect commercial passenger jets.

Elbit Systems Ltd. on Wednesday said its C-MUSIC system to protect large jets against shoulder-launched missiles from the ground passed tests. Elbit said it proved effective a number of times in protecting a Boeing 707 aircraft.

In 2002, militants fired two surface-to-air missiles at an Israeli charter plane shortly after takeoff in Mombasa, Kenya. The missiles missed their target but spurred an Israeli effort to improve countermeasures.

Elbit says the new system can be applied to any aircraft. It says it integrates advanced fiber laser technology with a thermal camera to protect against missiles fired from the ground.