El Al: Airline with laser missile shield
When most people think of aviation security, they think of thorough baggage screening, airport scanners, and tight security. But Israel’s national airline, El Al, has gone one step further. Its planes are equipped with technology that could easily be seen in a James Bond movie—the C-MUSIC laser system that can confuse incoming missiles.
Why El Al?
Israel is a country that faces long-term security threats. Israeli airline planes have been the target of repeated attacks in the past, and the biggest impetus came in the form of an incident in Mombasa, Kenya, in 2002. At that time, terrorists tried to shoot down an Israeli Boeing 757 with two portable SA-7 anti-aircraft missiles. Although the missiles missed their target, the incident clearly showed that the threat was real.
Based on this, the Israeli government decided to launch the SkyShield program, the aim of which was to equip civilian aircraft with special protection. The main role in it is played by El Al, the country's flag carrier.
What is C-MUSIC?
The acronym stands for Commercial Multi-Spectral Infrared Countermeasures – a system developed by Elbit Systems. It works on the principle of DIRCM (Directed Infrared Countermeasures).
An inconspicuous “pod” is installed under the fuselage of the aircraft – an aerodynamically shaped capsule that contains sensors and a laser turret. The sensors continuously monitor the aircraft’s surroundings and look for characteristic signals corresponding to the launch of an infrared-guided missile. As soon as the system detects such a threat, it launches a laser beam that blinds the missile’s infrared sensor. The missile thus loses its target and the aircraft is saved.
The whole process takes place automatically in fractions of a second, and the crew often does not even need to know about it.
How much does it cost?
The technology is not cheap. Estimates range from $1-3 million for installation on one aircraft. To this are added the costs of certification, maintenance and operation. However, in terms of one ticket, it only costs a few crowns if the costs are calculated over years of operation and thousands of flights.
However, Israel is willing to pay this price. Passenger safety is an absolute priority and El Al is also a symbol of the country. For the airline, C-MUSIC is not just a technology, but also part of the brand and image of the safest airline in the world.
Advantages and limitations
Advantages:
Protection against man-portable anti-aircraft missiles (MANPADS).
Strengthening the trust of passengers and partners.
Precedent for the integration of military technology into civil aviation.
Limitations:
High acquisition and operating costs.
Protects only against infrared-guided missiles, not against other types of attacks.
Expansion to other airlines is unlikely for now – both because of the cost and because the risk in other regions is not as high as in Israel.
The future
The introduction of C-MUSIC is an example of how civilian technology and military know-how can be combined. The market for similar systems is growing, and it is expected that in the coming years these technologies will become smaller, cheaper and better. It is therefore possible that we will one day see similar systems on other companies’ aircraft that fly to risk areas.
Conclusion
El Al is rightly proud of its reputation as one of the safest airlines in the world. Its planes not only undergo strict checks on the ground, but also have a laser shield in the clouds against missiles. For most passengers, this technology will remain hidden and may not even be known about. Nevertheless, C-MUSIC is a symbol that aviation safety has no boundaries – and that even a civilian airliner can become a high-tech fortress.
The 1/200 scale model of the Boeing 777 El Al, which you can buy in our online shop, is also equipped with this system. However, do not expect the system to be functional at this scale.