Defense Tech: Jet Defense Gets Off Ground: "It's taken nearly three years. But the Homeland Security Department is finally ready to start testing out missile countermeasures on commercial planes.

Back in November 2002, an Israeli 757 was attacked with two shoulder-fired MANPADS (man-portable air defense systems) over Kenya. Luckily, the missiles didn't connect. But many analysts think it's only a matter of time before an American jetliner is hit; MANPADS have killed hundreds of airline passengers since the 70's. And unless some kind of countermeasure is put in place, the planes will continue to be 'almost like sitting ducks. Those aircraft are very slow... Everyone can [attack them],' an Israeli defense researcher told CNN."

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"Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems have been working on cheaper, easier-to-maintain versions of the countermeasure. And Northrop says it should be ready to begin 'operational testing and evaluation... aboard an MD-11 airliner later this month and a Boeing 747 later this year.'

A company spokesperson says that the system 'will cost airlines $0.003 to operate per available seat mile or about 70 cents per passenger on a 2,000-mi. trip. This is about the cost of a bag of peanuts,"

(Via a DefenseTech.)