Israel's El Al Installing Antimissile Systems On Six Jets

Aftermath of a bombing in Israel (file photo) (CTK) 31 December 2005 -- Israel's national airline El Al is equipping six of its passenger jets with antimissile systems to protect the planes from possible attacks by ground-to-air missiles.

Officials said each Flight Guard system costs $1 million to install.

The systems are equipped with sensors and flares that can divert incoming missiles and prevent them from hitting the aircraft.

Officials said the systems are being installed only on planes that may fly to areas where the Al-Qaeda terror network may be active.

The decision to install the antimissile systems comes some three years after shoulder-launched missile were fired at an Israeli plane in Kenya.

(AP/AFP)