Singapore looks at missile defense

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SINGAPORE, Feb 15 (Reuters) -- Singapore plans to equip its commercial airplanes with anti-surface-to-air missile devices within two years, local media report.

Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan said Singapore military planes have anti-missile defenses and a government agency is developing such devices for their commercial counterparts, the Straits Times said Sunday.

Tan, who is coordinating minister for security and defense, said that once the anti-missile devices are available, the Ministry of Transport will be responsible for fitting the planes of Singapore Airlines and its regional arm, SilkAir.

In November, a cargo plane operated by courier giant DHL made an emergency landing at Baghdad's international airport after being hit by a surface-to-air missile.

The United States Department of Homeland Security has also commissioned research into adapting anti-missile defense systems to civilian aircraft.

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