NASHUA, N.H., 5 Jan. 2008.BAE Systems won a $29 million award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to test an infrared aircraft missile defense system on passenger aircraft. The tests will evaluate the system's compatibility with daily passenger airline operations and maintenance.
The latest contract is for the third phase of the DHS counter-MANPADS program's research development activities. There will be no testing of the JetEye system's missile-defeating capability; that testing was done at government test ranges as part of an earlier phase of the program.
As part of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) counter-man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) program, BAE Systems will install its JetEye aircraft missile defense system on up to three American Airlines aircraft. The company will evaluate the system's compatibility with daily passenger airline operations and maintenance.
The JetEye system is based on BAE Systems' existing directable infrared countermeasures technology, used to protect military aircraft. With this award, JetEye will be the only system installed on both cargo and passenger aircraft.
The counter-MANPADS program, created by DHS and Congress, is designed to commercialize proven military technology and gauge its suitability for protecting U.S. commercial aircraft by evaluating its performance, impact on aerodynamic drag, weight, reliability, maintainability, and system cost.
