FedEx asks FAA for OK to add anti-missile systems to some cargo planes
Editor's Note
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night famously keeps United States Postal Service carriers from delivering mail. When it comes to delivering packages and cargo, FedEx wants its planes to be able to keep going if attacked by missiles.
"In recent years, in several incidents abroad, civilian aircraft were fired upon by man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS)," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a notice posted Friday. In other words, weapons like shoulder-fired missiles.
El Al Israel Airlines equips its commercial aircraft with anti-aircraft missile technology and planes used for Air Force One have both electronic and infrared countermeasures to jam or divert incoming missiles when the U.S. president is on board, Politico notes.
The worry is that someone may try to use a heat-seeking missile to attack a jetliner.
But to date, aircraft used for cargo delivery have not been equipped with any anti-missile capabilities. To avoid costly delays and rerouting, and to continue to be permitted to fly over trouble spots that might otherwise be closed to air traffic, FedEx asked the FAA back in 2019 for permission to install laser-based missile defense systems on Airbus A321-200 airplanes, which the company does not currently have in its fleet.
The information came to light in an FAA filing.
"FAA design standards for transport category airplanes did not envisage that a design feature could project infrared laser energy outside the airplane. The FAA's design standards are inadequate to address this capability," the FAA notes.
In response to the FedEx request, the FAA is now proposing conditions to allow the package delivery company to proceed with the modification the agency describes as "a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes."
As explained in the FAA notice, the proposed design feature is a system that emits infrared laser energy outside the aircraft as a countermeasure against heat-seeking missiles. But the agency's regulations don't currently have "adequate or appropriate safety standards for this feature," according to the FAA. "These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards."
The FAA conditions cover a variety of safety concerns and apply only to Airbus Model A321-200 airplanes with laser-based missile defense systems. "This action affects only a certain novel or unusual design feature on one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability and affects only the applicant," the FAA said. The special conditions can be applied to other plane models with similar design features, but only if the applicant applies for a supplemental certificate, the government agency noted.
The special conditions include assuring that the system has a way to prevent the inadvertent activation of the system on the ground, including during airplane maintenance and ground handling, and making sure operation of the system in-flight doesn't damage the airplane or other aircraft or injure any person.
FAA also will require that the airplane flight manual supplement (AFMS) describes the intended functions of the installed laser systems and clearly states: "CAUTION: The operation of the installed laser system could pose significant risk of injury to others while in proximity to other aircraft, airports, and populated areas."
You can learn more about anti-missile systems and the special conditions in the FAA's Special Conditions notice here.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees