El Al: The airline that fights back!

[Opinion. Personally, I think I’d like an airline that’s unlikely to have enemies trying to shoot it down! Guess a million per plane must really hit ticket prices, even if you don't get shot down.]

El Al’s Anti-Missile Defence System

Sharad Ranabhat

Airways Mag: 26 April 2023

In 2004, El Al Israeli Airlines (LY) became the first airline to install an anti-missile system on a commercial aircraft. The technology was first developed for the Israeli Air Force's Flight Guard, a sophisticated radar system that detects incoming missiles and ejects flares to confuse and deflect the missiles. The Israeli airline's anti-missile defense system has since been updated repeatedly.

El Al's aircraft are equipped with a Doppler radar system that uses the Doppler effect to produce velocity data pertaining to objects at a distance. When an LY aircraft comes under attack, the system responds within seconds by firing invisible flares that divert any heat-seeking missiles.

The Doppler radar system costs around US$1 million per aircraft to be installed. This system was initially installed on six of the flag carrier's aircraft, and if successful, it would be rolled out to all of the carrier's other planes.

An anti-missile defense system seeks to defend a given area from attack by locating and tracking an incoming ballistic missile and then launching an interceptor to destroy the missile before it reaches the target. When an aircraft is attacked, the system responds with flames that are designed to deflect heat-seeking missiles.

El Al operates an all-Boeing fleet of approximately 45 to 53 aircraft.

Israel is the only country to have mandated this technology for its airlines.