The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) unveiled a system on Monday to protect passenger airliners from attack by missiles.

 

The system known as Guardian is developed by Northrop Grumman, the defense systems manufacturer with a plant in El Segundo of California.

 

The airport will use the system as a countermeasure against ground-based, shoulder-fired missiles that could be used by terrorists against civilian aircraft.

 

Evaluated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the system uses infrared technology to detect the heat from the missiles.

 

Guardian has been installed on an MD-10 wide-body three-engined jetliner for an 18-month testing program.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2007)