According to US media news on January 15, in order to deal with the risk of missile attacks, the US Federal Express (FedEx) applied to the FAA authorities to install an infrared laser anti-missile system on the company's cargo planes.
The U.S. FAA confirmed that it has received the application and is working on relevant regulations.
The FAA disclosed in a filing on Friday that FedEx applied in October 2019 to use an anti-missile system that emits infrared laser energy outside the aircraft as a measure against infrared-guided missiles.
"FedEx's missile defense system directs infrared laser energy toward incoming missiles to interrupt the missile's tracking of the aircraft's heat," the document said.
Because infrared laser energy devices can also pose a hazard to self-defense aircraft, other air vehicles, and personnel on the ground, the FAA must develop regulations to ensure that all parties involved are on the ground, including during aircraft maintenance, to prevent injury to other personnel and aircraft, can be considered for approval of air supply shipping operators to use the anti-missile system.
FedEx, which currently has more than 650 aircraft, hopes to install the system on the Airbus A321-200 that will soon enter service.
