Aviation Security

Presidential Action

Today, President Bush and the other G-8 Leaders endorsed a U.S.-driven plan to counter the threat to civil aviation posed by shoulder-launched missiles, or Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS).

The Threat: The unsuccessful missile attack on an Israeli commercial airliner in Mombasa, Kenya, in November 2002 was a stark reminder of the threat posed by terrorists possessing MANPADS. MANPADS are widely available on black or gray markets around the world. Even an unsuccessful attack on a commercial airliner would have a devastating economic and political impact.

G-8 Response: Today, G-8 Leaders agreed to Cooperative Action to Enhance Transport Security and Control of MANPADS and will:

• Adopt strict national controls over inventories and exports of MANPADS and key components;
• Ban transfers of MANPADS to non-state end-users; Help countries that wish to dispose of excess MANPADS stocks but lack the means to do so;
• Exchange information on countries that are not cooperating to control stockpiles of these weapons;
• Examine development of technical performance or launch control features that would preclude unauthorized use of newly produced MANPADS.