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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Taser International Inc. will employ its electric stun guns on Korean AirLines, which becomes the first commercial carrier to win U.S. government approval to use the devices to defend flights against hijackings and other threats, officials said on Monday.

The Homeland Security Department's Transportation Security Administration approved KAL's application in October to equip aircraft flying into or over the United States with the stun guns made by Scottsdale, Arizona-based Taser .

KAL has already bought the devices, which it will used on its roughly 50 weekly flights into and out of the country.

Taser shares rose as much as 22 percent in Monday trading on the Nasdaq. They traded late Monday up $8.14, or 17.5 percent, at $54.63, after earlier rising to $56.70, their highest level since April.

Taser stun guns, which cost about $400 to $800 each, use a non-lethal electric charge to disrupt muscle activity and subdue individuals.

"We've had a lot of interest from other carriers for our technology, but never had the approval from the TSA," said Tom Smith, Taser's president and co-founder, in an interview.

"It is significant because I do think we will have a certain role in aviation security, and you will see more sales coming from other carriers," he added.

There are about 17,700 passenger aircraft worldwide, he said.

But while airlines after the Sept. 11 attacks spent billions of dollars on hardened cockpit doors and other security measures, and thousands of pilots have completed training to carry firearms, U.S. airlines have shown little official interest in stun guns.

Only two U.S. carriers -- UAL Corp. unit United Airlines and regional carrier Mesa Air Group Inc. -- have sought TSA approval to use stun guns, but neither followed through fully on their applications.

Jeff Green, a United spokesman, said the carrier bought 1,200 Taser stun guns but shelved them in 2002 after the carrier sought bankruptcy protection. He said United plans to resume the Taser program once it exits Chapter 11.

Taser Information The new Advanced Taser M-18 series has almost 100% effectiveness rating. It combines the injury reducing benefits of traditional stun technology with a quantum leap in stopping power via new Electro-Muscular Disruption (EMD) technology. In police studies, the new Advanced Taser has a higher instant incapacitation rate than a 9mm hand gun. The Advanced Taser over-rides the central nervous system, providing more reliable takedown power. When the probes make contact with the target, the ADVANCED TASER transmits powerful electrical pulses along the wires and into the body of the target through up to two inches of clothing. The ADVANCED TASER uses the same cartridges as the original AIR TASER's.  Because these weapons affect the central nervous system by imitating the electrical impulses used to communicate within the human body, a hit anywhere on the body can be effective. Thus, the ADVANCED TASER is much easier to use than sprays or even firearms that require a hit to a specific zone of the body. Designed to fit your existing training The ADVANCED TASER uses the same movements and muscle memory as a firearm, making the system extremely intuitive and easy to use for any firearm qualified officer. Since the ADVANCED TASER uses the same muscle memory officers develop with their side arms, the unit is more accurate and reliable under high stress than other less-lethal weapons which require new motor skills which are not as familiar.