Sources inform “Globes” that IAI-Elta Electronics Industries has supplied its Flight Guard anti-missile system to the Sri Lankan Air Force. El Al (TASE:ELAL), Arkia Airlines, and Israir have selected this system to protect their fleets. The Sri Lanka deal is worth tens of millions of dollars. Elta is due to receive more orders for Flight Guard.
The Sri Lankan Air Force has suffered heavy losses of planes and helicopters shot down by Tamil Tiger insurgents' missiles in the two-decade civil war. International sources estimate the Sri Lankan Air Force has lost a third of its aircraft in the war.
Sources at Elta said today that no Sri Lankan Air Force plane has been shot down since Flight Guard was installed on its planes.
Reports in Sri Lanka mention an incident in which missiles were fired at four combat and cargo helicopters. The three helicopters equipped with Flight Guard survived the ambush undamaged; the fourth helicopter was lost.
Elta has delivered 150 Flight Guard systems, worth $150 million, to various countries, including France, Germany, and African countries.
Flight Guard can handle simultaneous threats from several missiles, and is also effective against missiles fired at low-flying planes.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on September 4, 2003