Israel and US to develop air defences

Israel and the US have struck a deal to develop a missile defence system for airliners, according to reports.

Officials began looking at an anti-missile system in the aftermath of a failed attack on an Israeli airliner carrying 271 tourists last month.

The plane was taking off from Mombasa in Kenya, when suspected al-Qaida operatives launched two shoulder-held missiles at the charter flight. Both missed their target

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approved the joint programme with the US in a meeting with Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz yesterday, Israel Radio said.

The Israeli military research company Rafael has developed a system to protect airliners by installing devices that would emit a hot beam of light to divert heat-seeking missiles.

The system costs hundreds of thousands of pounds per plane but Israeli Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said co-operation among countries to develop such a system could bring down the cost.

Warplanes have long been equipped with missile deflection systems and several planes owned by the Israeli airline El Al have electronic sensors that can detect incoming missiles.

Mofaz recently suggested putting anti-missile equipment on up to 40 El Al planes that travel to high-risk international destinations.