Tel Aviv: Israeli company BIRD Aerosystems, on October 13 announced the successful completion of the installation and EASA certification of its advanced Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) with Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) on a Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft.
The EASA certification confirms that the integration of BIRD Aerosystems’ missile protection suite on the Global 7500 meets the applicable European airworthiness requirements, enabling the aircraft to incorporate the advanced protection capability within its certified configuration.
The achievement highlights BIRD Aerosystems’ expertise not only in advanced missile protection technology, but also in the complex aircraft integration and certification processes required for sophisticated platforms.
The Global 7500 joins a growing range of VVIP aircraft protected by BIRD Aerosystems’ AMPS Suite, further expanding the company’s presence in the high-value aircraft protection market.
According to the company, BIRD Aerosystems’ AMPS suite provides robust protection against Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS) and other infrared-guided missile threats. The system integrates advanced missile warning, threat detection and confirmation, tracking and directional infrared countermeasure capabilities, enabling rapid and accurate response to missile threats with false alarms reduced to virtually zero.
Designed as an integrated, end-to-end protection solution, BIRD Aerosystems’ AMPS can be adapted to a wide range of aircraft platforms and operational requirements. BIRD Aerosystems provides the complete programme lifecycle, from system design and aircraft integration through certification, installation and operational support.
Ronen Factor, Co-CEO and Founder of BIRD Aerosystems, said, “The Global 7500 is another aircraft now protected by BIRD Aerosystems, joining a growing number of high-value platforms equipped with our airborne missile protection suite. This programme reflects the continued expansion of our activity in the market and the growing demand for advanced protection against MANPADS and other missile threats.”
In recent months, there is a renewed interest in systems that can protect aircraft from shoulder launched missiles. Israeli companies that make these systems have been contacted mainly by operators of business jets that fly in areas where these missiles are in the hands of terror organisations.
Israeli sources said that the demand can be partially explained by the great number of humanitarian flights connected with the war in Ukraine that are performed by business jets.
According to a report in the website of the arms control association, despite the global campaign to counter the illicit proliferation of Man Portable Air defence systems (MANPADS), the Small Arms Survey has identified reports of illicit MANPADS in over 32 countries and territories since 2011. These include the imagery of dozens of advanced systems acquired by non-state actors including Russian proxies in Ukraine prior to Russia’s 2022 invasion and ethnic armed groups in Myanmar.
Although the vast majority of MANPADS are in national stockpiles, terrorists and other non-state actors have acquired the anti-aircraft missiles through deliberate transfers, the black market, or theft.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
