"Global Hawk could watch over air travel"

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Global Hawk could watch over air travel
The Antelope Valley (CA) Press


Terrorism knows no borders.

As we learned from 9-11, the entire United States is vulnerable to deadly
attacks.

Terrorists may designate airports as prime future targets in the United
States and around the world. The bad guys are now capable of firing
ground-to-air missiles that can bring down aircraft.

Our helicopters are being hit in Iraq. Shoulder-fired missiles have been
used against passenger and cargo planes overseas.

The U.S. military and the Homeland Security Department this summer will test
whether drones flying 65,000 feet above the nation's busiest airports could
be used to protect planes from being shot down by terrorists with
shoulder-fired missiles.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's favorite TV show is "24." The
project has been named "Project Chloe" after a character on that fictional
drama.

The drones, to be tested over the Patuxent River Naval Air Station outside
Washington, would be outfitted with missile-warning systems and possibly
anti-missile lasers that could send plane-bound missiles veering off course,
said Kerry Wilson, a deputy administrator of Homeland Security's
anti-missile program.

The Global Hawk unmanned aircraft being produced by Northrop Grumman at Air
Force Plant 42 in Palmdale might be the best type of drone that could
provide overhead protection at U.S. airfields.

USA Today on Friday, March 25, provided a graphic illustration about how the
defense system could work by using a laser-equipped Global Hawk.

The ground-controlled aircraft can patrol over airports - at 65,000 feet up.
It can remain airborne for up to 42 hours.

The Northrop Grumman products are being used extensively in Iraq. They have
a cruising speed of 395 miles per hour and a range of 16,111 miles.

If a shoulder-fired missile were launched, the Global Hawk could detect the
signature exhaust plume of the missile and fire a blinding infrared laser at
the missile, jamming its guidance system and causing the weapon to lose
track of its target. The missile should self-destruct in midair.

The time from detection to interception is less than 10 seconds.

Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., said the government should share the cost of
installation and maintenance of the more expensive systems with the airline
industry.

"It's been four years of trying to figure out how to get this cheaper," he
said. "But it's just a matter of time before a shoulder-fired missile
becomes the biggest blow to our economy."

If a single commercial jet were shot down with loss of life, America's
airline service would probably be immediately grounded, replicating the
airline chaos during this winter's storms many, many times over.

Although to date no one has tried to take down a plane in the United States,
Homeland Security is concerned about the possibility.

It's vital that a feasible, cost-effective defense system be put in place as
soon as possible so that passengers can continue to fly safely.

We believe an ever-expanding fleet of Global Hawks can play a prime role in
providing airport protection, not only in our nation but around the world.

 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************