The personal security of VVIP principals on business aircraft is more significant than ever before. And with corporations, government officials and heads of state traveling to – or over – troubled global hotspots, the industry is looking to step up their protection while they’re in the air.

Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) and Sabena Technics revealed during NBAA that they are to co-operate in proposing self-protection systems (SPS) for Airbus corporate jets.

Starting with the ACJ320 family, each SPS would integrate an existing directional infra-red countermeasure (DIRCM) system with an Airbus corporate jet to provide protection against missiles fired from man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), the most widespread missile threat today.

Airbus ACJ319

Airbus has an ACJ319 on display at the show

Max Kingsley-Jones/FlightGlobal

“Offering self-protection is yet another way in which we care for our customers,” says ACJ president Benoit Defforge.

The co-operation agreement was signed this afternoon by Defforge and Sabena Technics senior vice president sales and business development, Daniel Soltani.

Read all the latest news and information from the 2019 NBAA show on our dedicated page

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