"When you look at the cost benefit, it would be an
extremely expensive proposition, and in the end, is it really going
to work?"
Source: John Hotard, spokesman for American
Airlines. The Department of Homeland Security signed a $29 million
contract with BAE Systems December 21, calling for tests to be
conducted with domestic aircraft equipped with the laser-based
JETEYE defense system. BAE is working with American to outfit three
of its Boeing 767-200s, used on transcons between New York and Los
Angeles, with the system designed to jam the guidance systems of
man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS.