FedEx Wants To Install Missile-Killing Lasers On Its Planes
FedEx wants to install anti-missile laser technology on its planes and in a startling document, a case is made for why such extreme measures are needed. FedEx is not expecting its cargo planes to be attacked by large surface-to-air missiles but wants to defend against man-portable rocket launcher attacks. While a missile-killing laser seems more likely to be found on military aircraft, there is apparently a growing need for commercial flights to be prepared for this type of threat as well.
FedEx is a massive global shipping provider specializing in urgent delivery and relying on airplanes for that speed. Much of its traffic passes through the Memphis International Airport, home of the FedEx Superhub, one of the busiest shipping hubs in the world, which consistently ranks in the top two for most cargo handled and this activity has kept it at the top for the last several years. FedEx was founded in Little Rock, Arkansas, but soon shifted operations to Memphis due to its ideal location at the population center of the country and international airport which facilitates rapid delivery within the US and overseas.
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If there is a problem in the air, FedEx is likely among the first to know about it, by the sheer volume of its air traffic. A Federal Aviation Administration document recently came to light, revealing a request from FedEx to address a particularly frightening issue with missile attacks from man-portable rocket launchers. The idea is to add anti-missile lasers to its cargo planes. This technology is not as aggressive as it might sound and the lasers are not powerful enough to destroy a missile but instead shine an infrared laser to blind the heat-seeking systems
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