For the first time, an El Al plane has been outfitted with a C-MUSIC system to protect it against shoulder-fired missiles. The plane, a Boeing 737, conducted test flights with the new system in place.

The MUSIC DIRCM systems are to be installed in every civilian plane traveling to a high-risk area.

Arkia and Israir planes will get C-MUSIC systems as well.

Several terrorist groups have threatened to fire missiles at Israeli planes in recent years. Terrorists in Sinai are a particular concern, as they are known to have armed themselves with man-portable air-defense systems.

In 2002 terrorists tried to shoot down an Israeli plane in Kenya using surface-to-air missiles.