Homeland Security: Protecting Airliners from
Terrorist Missiles
Introduction
Shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), also known as MANPADS
(man-portable air defense systems), developed in the late 1950s to provide military
ground forces protection from enemy aircraft, are receiving a great deal of attention
as potential terrorist weapons. These missiles, affordable and widely available
through a variety of sources, have been used successfully over the past three decades
both in military conflicts1 as well as by terrorist organizations. The missiles are
about 5 to 6 feet in length, weigh about 35 to 40 pounds, and, depending on the
model, can be purchased on the black market anywhere from a few hundred dollars
for older models to upwards of almost a quarter million dollars for newer, more
capable models. Seventeen countries, including the United States, produce manportable
air defense systems.2 Shoulder-fired SAMs generally have a target detection
range of about......

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Title: Homeland Security: Protecting Airliners From
Approximate Word Count: 9048
Approximate Pages: 37 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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