# Flight Guard > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Flight_Guard > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Flight_Guard.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_Guard > Source revision: 1314445605 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Flight Guard** is an [Elta](/source/Elta_Systems) Systems Ltd's brand name for a family of airborne systems for protecting civilian aircraft against [man-portable air-defense systems](/source/Man-portable_air-defense_systems). The solution is part of [Elbit Systems](/source/Elbit_Systems)’ MUSIC™[1] family, which offers a series of advanced [DIRCM](/source/Directional_Infrared_Counter_Measures) (Directed Infrared Counter Measures) systems designed to protect aircraft from heat-seeking missiles, particularly shoulder-fired MANPADS. Alongside it, the J-MUSIC™ system was developed for large aircraft such as transport and refueling planes, and the Mini-MUSIC™ system is intended for helicopters and small to medium-sized aircraft. ## Description [Elta](/source/Elta_Systems)'s Flight Guard is a missile detection and avoidance system that is installed on more than 200 military aircraft and helicopters as well as on several VIP commercial aircraft, and has been also installed in aircraft of the [El Al](/source/El_Al),[2][3] [Arkia](/source/Arkia_Israel_Airlines)[4] and [Israir](/source/Israir_Airlines)[4] fleets that fly to high risk destinations. In September 2003, a year after [an attempt](/source/2002_Mombasa_attacks) was made to shoot down an [Arkia Israel Airlines](/source/Arkia_Israel_Airlines) [Boeing 757](/source/Boeing_757) in [Mombasa](/source/Mombasa), Kenya in 2002,[5] the Israeli Ministry of Transportation selected Elta Systems to perform advanced flight tests of Flight Guard for protecting its commercial aircraft. Part of the funding was used to obtain certification of the system by [Israel's Civil Aviation Authority](/source/Civil_Aviation_Authority_of_Israel) (CAA). The system chosen comprised a radar-based [missile approach warning](/source/Missile_Approach_Warning) system (MAWS) and countermeasure dispensing system. The system was chosen since it is specifically designed to defend low-flying aircraft against [MANPADs](/source/MANPAD), such as those utilized in the attack in Kenya. The automated system uses [doppler radar](/source/Doppler_radar) to detect incoming missiles, before firing IMI-designed civilian [flares](/source/Flare_(countermeasure)) as [decoys](/source/Decoy) against incoming [infrared-homed](/source/Infrared_homing) missiles. It was planned that the production flares used would be invisible to the human eye.[6] [7] ## Controversy The system has proved controversial, with both Switzerland and the [FAA](/source/FAA)[citation needed] in the US raising fire hazard safety concerns. The Swiss have stated that any aircraft with the system installed will be grounded, despite uncovering a plot to down an El Al aircraft in that country;[8] other European countries have indicated that they might follow suit.[9] ## Future development Although Flight Guard was approved by the [Israeli CAA](/source/Civil_Aviation_Authority_of_Israel) and several other countries, the Israel authority decided to buy a laser-based jamming system called Multi-Spectral [Infrared Countermeasure](/source/Infrared_countermeasures) (MUSIC) which began development in 2008, that does not use flares.[10] ## See also - [CAMPS](/source/CAMPS) - [Common Infrared Countermeasures program](/source/Common_Infrared_Countermeasures_program) - [Northrop Grumman Guardian](/source/Northrop_Grumman_Guardian) - [AN/ALQ-144](/source/AN/ALQ-144) - Infrared guided missile countermeasure system - [Directional Infrared Counter Measures](/source/Directional_Infrared_Counter_Measures) - [2002 Mombasa attacks](/source/2002_Mombasa_attacks) - attack was co-ordinated with the shootdown attempt. - [List of airliner shootdown incidents](/source/List_of_airliner_shootdown_incidents) ## References 1. ["Directed IR Countermeasures | Elbit Systems"](https://www.elbitsystems.com/air-space/airborne-self-protection/dircm-systems/directed-ir-countermeasures). *www.elbitsystems.com*. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 1. Williams, Dan (2006-02-16). ["El Al Fits Fleet with Anti-Missile System"](https://archive.today/20120728104731/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1540304&C=airwar). defensenews.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1540304&C=airwar) on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 1. Vause, John (May 24, 2004). ["Missile defense for El Al fleet"](http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/24/air.defense/). [CNN](/source/CNN). Retrieved 2007-11-30. 1. ["Elta supplies Flight Guard anti-missile system to Sri Lankan Air Force"](http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-721180). 2003-09-04. Retrieved 2018-03-28. 1. ["Kenyan police find Mombasa missiles"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2552097.stm). [BBC News](/source/BBC_News). 2002-12-06. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 1. "El Al set to use Flight Guard". *Flight International*. **166** (4941): 15. 6 July 2004. 1. Henery, Peter. ["Armed security guards"](https://vpguards.com/). Retrieved 28 February 2023. 1. ["Swiss 'foiled hit on Israeli jet'"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5060936.stm). [BBC News](/source/BBC_News). 2006-06-08. 1. Beck, Eldad (2006-02-26). ["Europe objects to El Al's anti-missile shield"](http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3221013,00.html). [Ynetnews](/source/Ynetnews). Retrieved 2007-10-24. 1. ["Israel to Fund System to Protect Commercial Aircraft from Missiles"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080421205642/http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/missiles/Israel_to_Fund_System_to_Protect_Commercial_Aircraft_from_Missiles160013744.php). defensetalk.com. 2007-10-12. Archived from [the original](http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/missiles/Israel_to_Fund_System_to_Protect_Commercial_Aircraft_from_Missiles160013744.php) on 2008-04-21. ## External links - [Flight Guard](http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/aircraft/systems/flight_guard/Flight_Guard.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080308164023/http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/aircraft/systems/flight_guard/Flight_Guard.htm) 2008-03-08 at the Wayback Machine (Photographs and technical specifications) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Flight Guard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_Guard) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_Guard?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.