Necessity, the Mother of Invention

"There will be no war in the future for it has become impossible, now that it is clear that war means suicide."
Jean de Bloch, Polish financier, banker, Jew, pacifist, 1900

Elbit Systems Ltd., one of Israel's top defence contractors, has devised and perfected  a system whose purpose is meant to "defeat modern, man-portable infrared missiles". At no time in human history is such a defensive device more required than now, when terrorists and those fomenting violent rebellion are now in possession of high-tech gear like shoulder-mounted or man-portable' missiles capable of inflicting huge damage on targets, including shooting aircraft out of the sky.

This simulation shows a laser fired from under the aircraft intercepting an incoming missile. (Image source: YouTube)

Following last week's suspension of flights into Tel Aviv in the wake of an attempted hit by a rocket attack on incoming or outgoing flights by the terror group Hamas, the need for such a defence system to safeguard international flight and with it interoperability of airlines and business contacts on a global scale is paramount. Ben Gurion International Airport, just as much as the skies over eastern Ukraine must be capable of operating civilian aircraft with safety.

Three commercial Israeli carriers -- El Al Israel Airlines, Arkia Israeli Airlines and Israir Airlines are all committed to the installation of an Elbit system called C-Music. The system is represented by a pod bolted to the undercarriage of the aircraft which has been engineered to detect incoming missiles by means of a thermal camera. The installed C-Music system fires a laser to deflect the missile off its trajectory, leading it to explode a safe distance from its target.

Elbit’s C-Music anti-missile system installed on the underbelly of a passenger plane. (Photo: Defense Ministry/Elbit Systems)

The Israeli defence ministry describes this new defence system as "the most advanced system of its kind in the world", whose capability "will provide ultimate defence to planes." If any country has been continually challenged and embattled by its neighbours, and that would include the most hostile of Islamist-terrorist neighbours dedicated to their vision of destroying the country, Israel presents as an unfortunate anomaly among nations.

Its celebrated Iron Dome system, a purely defensive system meant to halt and harmlessly explode in the median atmosphere the advanced rocketry capable of reaching deep into Israeli territory, a signal case in point. And to this point in world affairs no other country save Israel has need -- yet -- of such a defensive system. C-Music has a wider application that should appeal internationally and is designed for use with both fixed-wing and rotor aircraft.

Since its advanced design and production has come on line, Israel's transportation ministry has committed to having the devices installed on all the country's airliners. Admittedly, missiles shot by a radar-guided system mounted on an armoured vehicles would be beyond its capacity. But increasingly, it is shoulder-fired weapons, now in the hands of any number of terrorist groups that have been proliferating, not heavier weapons used by national armies.

Photo: Israeli Defense Ministry and Elbit Systems

In 2002, terrorists fired shoulder-launched missiles at an Israeli Arkia Airlines passenger jet taking off from Mombasa, Kenya. The two missiles missed their intended target, but the incident stimulated the Israeli political/military establishment toward the development of a reliable defence. Thus far, Israel stands alone in its mandating of the technology for its domestic fleet and its military aircraft.

But then, Israel is unique in facing an incessant barrage of rockets meant to destabilize its economy, inflict infrastructure damage, and wound and kill its citizens. Not only within Israel, but globally.  Through the kindly auspices of a geographically close and brutally averse neighbour. The aviation industry is skeptical, looking at devilish details, with concerns about pilot training and the additional high operating costs which the U.S. government estimated would be around $43 billion, to outfit their own aircraft.

The Canadian military, however, is in the market for an air defence system for its VIP aircraft, including one used by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to defend against surface-to-air missiles. As a friend of Israel going well beyond the usual platitudes of support, to shout it from the rooftops as it were, caution is the better part of valour in some instances, such as protecting government from the potential of vengeance-seeking ill-wishers.

For Canada, according to the military defence acquisition guide, C-Music's intended installation will be for the time being limited to the air force's C-144 Challengers, the existing fleet of C-150 Polaris aircraft, including the prime minister's airbus. Canadian military transports like the huge C-17s and C130 Hercules used to fly into unstable regions are equipped with counter-measure devices.