NORAD and US Northern Command have asked private and government air security experts for assistance in countering the threat posed by terrorists firing shoulder-launched missiles to aircraft flying within North America. The two commands hosted a conference last week that had 100 experts run through several threat scenarios, all featuring terrorists wielding man-portable air defense systems. “There have been attempts to smuggle MANPADS into North America,” said seminar facilitator David Wilkins. Participants agreed that defense and response would take government-industry cooperation and that it is “unlikely” to completely negate the MANPADS threat.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
