Joint MANPADS Workshop

Santo Polizzi, CPP - DHS/TSA Liaison -Interagency MANPADS Task Force U.S. Department of State

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration and the Polish Civil Aviation Authority, Security and Facilitation Department, recently co-sponsored a one week Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) hands-on workshop for aviation security/law enforcement officials.   Participants in the workshop included the Polish Office of Civil Aviation, Polish Air Traffic Control Agency, Polish Airports, National Police, Border Guards, and Internal Security Agency.  The program focused on an open exchange of views, experiences, vulnerability/risk assessment methodologies and discussions on the multi-layered approach to counter this type of threat.

MANPADS are low cost, portable, easily maintained, and offer unique flexibility in terms of launching sites.

With the widespread availability of MANPADS in certain areas of the world, and the relative ease with which they may be transported, there remains concern that MANPADS and other stand-off type of weapons could be used against civilian aircraft anywhere in the world. 


According to Paul J. Rodgers, TSA Attaché to Poland, “while there is currently no specific MANPADS threat in Poland, these types of joint exchanges are an excellent example of one of the many ongoing joint initiatives under the umbrella of the U.S. – Poland Counterterrorism Working Group.  The information and experience gained during these types of joint exchanges are instrumental for both our countries security services, when developing: strategic policies, preventive mitigation measures; and contingency plans to counter a specific threat, should one arise”.