The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded BAE Systems and American a $29 million contract to test laser jammer technology on scheduled commercial airline flights as a defense against shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile attacks, the department confirmed yesterday.

The contract calls for installing BAE's JetEye infrared laser jamming device on project partner American's aircraft making scheduled flights across the U.S. The contract runs through April 2009.

The award marks a new phase in DHS' four-year study of technologies to counter small missile attacks from devices known as MANPADS--Man Portable Air Defense Systems. It will be the first time directed infrared counter measures (DIRCM) -- developed to protect military aircraft  are used on a passenger aircraft in the DHS program. BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman have successfully tested similar technologies on cargo aircraft. Both use an infrared sensor to detect missile launches and then redirect the attacker's guidance system with a laser burst. Unlike JetEye, which is contained largely within the aircraft, Northrop Grumman's Guardian system attaches outside, on the belly of the aircraft.

Previously, DHS officials said they would limit testing to scheduled cargo aircraft but Congress inserted additional money in the Fiscal 2007 homeland security appropriations bill to evaluate the feasibility of equipping commercial passenger aircraft with counter-MANPADS technology (DAILY, Sept. 14).

Manufactured in more than 20 countries, MANPADS are considered a serious threat to commercial aircraft. About 40 civilian aircraft have been struck by MANPADS resulting in about 25 crashes and 400 deaths since the 1970s, according to the U.S. State Dept. Officials believe there are more than 750,000 of the small heat-seeking missiles around the world, although how many are in the hands of terrorists, criminals and non-state entities like al Qaeda is not known.