US Plans to Equip Airliners with Anti-missile Devices

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, May 16, 2003

US Plans to Equip Airliners with Anti-missile Devices

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The United States government has decided to ask companies to build anti-missile devices for the airliners amid the concern that terrorists might use shoulder-fired missiles for attacks, US lawmakers aid.

Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, who is co-sponsoring a bill to equip 6,800 US airliners with anti-missile devices at a cost of10 billion dollars, cited the decision as "a real breakthrough."

Last November, an Israeli civilian aircraft narrowly escaped two SA-7 missiles believed to be fired by al-Qaida terrorists after it took off from Mombasa, Kenya.

The United States government has ordered a feasibility study ofthe production of the anti-missile devices.

Hundreds and perhaps thousands of Soviet-style SA-7s missiles that can hit low flying aircraft within 3 miles (5 kilometers) are reportedly available on the worldwide arms market.

US intelligence officials claimed that some portable missiles have been smuggled into the country.

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