A Continued Threat to Aviation Security

Jake Wilson / August 03, 2011

According to the U.S. State Department, since 2003 over 32,000 illicitly held and loosely secured shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles have been destroyed. More commonly known as MANPADS (man-portable air defense systems), these weapons can shoot down civilian and military aircraft.

It is estimated that since the 1970s over 40 aircraft have been shot down by the shoulder-fired missiles. Because they are small, lightweight, and inexpensive, they are a favorite weapon among terrorists. Nearly every country maintains a stockpile of them, including the U.S. Thus, there are serious concerns when weak states lose control of their stockpiles, as is the case in Libya. There have been numerous reports of weapons depots being cleared out by rebels, Libyan soldiers, and unknown actors. (more…)