Author Description

Both the U.S. and its allies have increasingly relied upon civilian transport aircraft, such as the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF), to augment organic military airlift. However, the widespread proliferation of Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) poses a significant threat to unprotected civilian aircraft. Previous research focused on installing the military's counter-MANPADS systems, such as Infrared Countermeasures (IRCM), on civilian aircraft. However, the unique CRAF operating environment makes such an aircraft-centric approach economically unfeasible. Instead, future counter-MANPADS programs should shift focus from protecting individual aircraft to an area-wide system that protects entire airfields. Aerostats possess unique capabilities that enable them to provide an area-wide counter-MANPADS defense using existing IRCM technology. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.