MANPADS Surface to Air Missiles Our greatest terrorist threat?
Posted: March 10th, 2006 03:30 PM EDT KENNETH J. SOLOSKY Aviation Operations Contributor Officer.com The Threat It is clear that MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense Systems) or shoulder launched surface to air missiles present an enormous challenge for law enforcement. Most agencies are aware of this challenge, but some might view MANPADS as an "airport police" problem or at the most, a problem for those jurisdictions that border airports. There are over 12,000 public use airports in the United States with 400 providing scheduled airline service. If you factor in all the military airfields located in the United States and understand the capability of MANPADS systems, it is easy to understand that a possible MANPADS attack is every agency'sproblem. All law enforcement agencies have a stake in addressing the threat posed from MANPADS. MANPAD Systems MANPADS are commonly described as shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles that are short-range surface-to-air missiles. They can be carried and fired by a single individual or fired by more than one person acting as a crew. Most MANPADS consist of: 1) a missile packaged in a tube; 2) a launching mechanism (commonly known as a "grip stock"); and 3) a battery. The tubes have an aiming device, which protect the missile until it has been fired, and are normally disposable. The missiles themselves usually contain the homing device(s) that direct them towards their aerial target. MANPADS (tube with missile within), typically range from about 4 feet to 6 1/2 feet in length and are about 3 inches in diameter. Their weight, with launcher, ranges from about 28 pounds to just over 55 pounds. They are easy to transport and conceal. Some of the most commonly proliferated MANPADS are about the size and weight of a full golf bag and can easily fit into the trunk of an automobile. There are three main types of MANPADS classified primarily by their guidance systems or "seekers:" 1. Infrared (IR) that home in on an aircraft's heat source, usually the engine's exhaust plume; 2. Command Line-of-Sight (CLOS) whereby the MANPADS operator visually acquires the target aircraft using a magnified optical sight and then uses radio controls to guide the missile into the aircraft; and 3. Laser beam riders in which the missile flies along the laser beam and strikes the aircraft where the operator has aimed the laser. The most commonly used MANPAD by terrorist organizations are of the first type because they require the least amount of training and experience to operate. The second and third types, while harder to operate, are very difficult to defend against with any countermeasures. Prevention Strategies The best strategies in addressing this threat are prevention, prevention and prevention. All officers must be provided with a short awareness course on MANPADS. The awareness course should include pictures of MANPADS and their components. The officer would then be able to identify the various components, especially if they are discovered separately. For example, an officer might inadvertently find a "grip stock" and not realize it is a part of a MANPAD. The course should also include an overview on MANPAD capability. The course should also point out most likely places where a terrorist might set-up and launch a MANPAD attack. Personnel should conduct proactive patrols. The mark of most successful terrorist organizations is detailed planning and surveillance. The opportunity to interrupt an operation might present itself well before the "attack" stage. Patrols should consist of ground units, airborne assets and marine units. Airborne units can use FLIR & Nightsun (searchlight) to check areas along runways, airport perimeters and along approach and departure paths. Investigation of the London bombing attacks on July 7, 2005 determined that the attackers conducted "practice" runs two weeks before the actual attacks. Terrorists are out there, among law enforcement, planning their next attack. It is up to law enforcement to prevent, interrupt and stop it. All intelligence - whether provided by civilians or received from officers in the field - must be carefully and thoroughly analyzed. The seemingly innocent behavior or actions of an individual could have larger implications. For example, an officer is informed by a civilian pilot that the pilot observed s person with "aviation charts & maps" at a local coffee shop. The civilian pilot became concerned because when the person realized he was being watched, he abruptly closed up the maps and walked away. Although mere possession of "aviation charts & maps" hardly constitutes a crime, the information should and must enter the "intelligence stream." It might just connect the dots to a much bigger picture. Patrol officers should always incorporate a "terrorism" component in their investigations. This component need not be elaborate or complex. Simply ask, what, if anything, does this have to do with terrorism? What are those two persons doing in the field? Are they really just taking nature photos or is there a more sinister reason for their presence? Investigative units should also look for signs of MANPADS during any investigations conducted. The narcotic cartels of foreign nations have numerous sources in place to help smuggle anything into the United States. It would be very easy to include a MANPAD in a narcotics shipment. The Good And Bad News There is both good news and bad news on the issue of MANPADS. The bad news is that there have been almost one million MANPADS produced by various countries including Bulgaria, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Japan, the Netherlands, North Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Sweden, Turkey, the United States, and the United Kingdom. While it is believed that the vast majority are in state inventories there are certainly MANPADS in terrorist organizations. A 2005 report prepared for the United States Congress lists twenty-six non-state groups that are believed to have MANPADS. Of these 26 groups, at least 12 are confirmed to possess these weapons through actual attacks. The good news is that many of the MANPADS have reached the end of their service life. There is considerable debate as to how long a unit can remain viable. Some argue that these systems were designed to withstand extreme battlefield conditions. Components such as batteries can be replaced with batteries purchased from the local hardware store and converted for MANPAD use. Others contend that the units' components will break down over time and become useless unless they are maintained. More good news is although these systems are advertised as "fire and forget" weapons, which simply means aim at the target and fire and the missile will do the rest, there is some training required for MANPADs to be deployed successfully. There is some evidence that this was an issue in the MANPAD attack in Mombasa, Kenya on an Israeli charter airliner. Two teams of terrorists fired two missiles at the departing airliner. Fortunately, both of the missiles missed. It is believed that due to inadequate training, the missiles were fired too close to the aircraft causing the missiles to fly past without detonating. There is a built-in safety device for the operator, insuring that the missile must travel a certain distance before the warhead becomes armed. In some attacks in which an aircraft was hit, the aircraft was able to land successfully. On November 22, 2003, a DHL A-300 Airbus cargo jet transporting mail in Iraq was struck and damaged by a MANPADS. Though hit in the left fuel tank, the flight crew did an extraordinary job in maintaining aircraft control and the plane was able to return to Baghdad Airport and land safely. The key word is vigilance and awareness. All personnel must be aware of this deadly threat and ever vigilant for intelligence information and physical signs or evidence of a planned MANPAD attack. For more information or additional resources, agencies can contact the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) or the military. The TSA has done many MANPAD mitigation studies at various airports and agencies might benefit from the information and insight these plans provide. Web Links: * Federation of <http://www.fas.org/asmp/campaigns/MANPADS/MANPADS.html> American Scientists * GlobalSecurity.org <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/manpads.htm> * Transportation Security Administration <http://www.tsa.gov/> <http://www.officer.com/images/contributor/KenSolosky120x150.jpg> Lt. Kenneth J. Solosky <mailto:> is a nineteen year veteran of the New York City Police Department and has been assigned as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, patrol platoon commander, the Warrant Division and police academy instructor. He is currently the Chief Pilot/Director of Training in the NYPD Aviation Unit. Lt. Solosky has a BA degree in Public Administration from St. John's University and is pursuing his MA degree in Criminal Justice from the City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Solosky has FAA Airline Transport Pilot ratings in both airplanes and helicopters, is a certified flight instructor and a member of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA). Printable version may be for personal use only. 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