Russia is offering for export a new system to protect aircraft from heat-seeking missiles. Known as the Airborne Laser Jamming System, this consists of a deuterium-fluoride laser which can jam the heat-seekers on most missiles and prevent them from tracking the aircraft. For fighters, two systems are used (in a pod under each wing); civilian airliners could be fitted with a single laser mounted under the center of the aircraft. The aircraft must have its own missile warning system to detect the incoming missile and cue the laser where to point.--Stephen V Cole