UAV anti-missile airport defence
Northrop Grumman has demonstrated a missile defense system that is attached to an unmanned airbourne vehicle (UAV) and watches for missiles as it circles approximately 10 miles above an airport
The system uses sensors to detect missile launches and lasers to blind the infrared seekers that home in on a hot jet exhaust.
This method was proven in tests on Sept. 8 and 9 at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. From an altitude of 50,000 feet, an infrared sensor was able to detect a missile launch, relay the information to an onboard missile tracker and then hit the missile with a blast from a laser.
Cost has been a major obstacle in the effort to protect commercial airliners from the threat of shoulder-fired missiles, but UAV-mounted missile defense systems might make protecting airports more affordable.
rfdesign.com
