Leading missile-countermeasures participant Northrop Grumman expects the recently launched US Counter-Manpads programme to drive the development of the market and doubts whether non-US airlines will commit to equipping their aircraft.
Jim Ackleson, Northrop Grumman director international infrared countermeasures systems, says only another missile incident might change this view.
"We have had a lot of interest from carriers internationally," he says, "but clearly there seems to be a sense of watching the [US] Department of Homeland Security."
He says he has "no doubt whatsoever" that the company's directional infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system would have prevented the recent attack on a DHL International Airbus A300 at Baghdad.
Experts say a current-generation shoulder-launched missile was involved, given the 10,000ft (3,000m) altitude of the aircraft, although the exact type of weapon is not known.
Northrop Grumman was one of three companies awarded $2 million DHS contracts last month to begin development of systems suitable for commercial aircraft, and it plans to fly DIRCM on a widebody aircraft as part of that contest.
United Airlines is leading one team and Delta Air Lines is teamed with BAE Systems on another, but Ackleson declines to say who Northrop Grumman is working with or whose aircraft will be used for the flight programme. Asked whether it is a US major airline, however, he replies only that it is a US entity with widebody aircraft.
The Rocket Systems division of Israel Military Industries (IMI) has completed development of an advanced flare to protect civilian aircraft from shoulder-launched missiles. The infrared flare is invisible to the human eye, which offers tactical advantages and reduces passenger concern, according to IMI.Source: Flight International