Israel Aerospace Industries Unveils New Balloon-Borne Radar for Drone Detection
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Israel Aerospace Industries has introduced POINT@AIR, a new balloon-mounted radar system designed to detect low-flying drones and other aerial threats. The system uses artificial intelligence and advanced radar technology to overcome limitations of ground-based systems, providing early warning. It can be rapidly deployed and tracks air, sea, and ground targets.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel Aerospace Industries unveiled the POINT@AIR balloon-borne radar system for early drone detection.
- The radar system overcomes ground-based radar blind spots caused by terrain and urban structures.
- It is specifically designed to counter low-flying drones and small aerial threats.
- The system uses AI algorithms for data processing and employs electronic and mechanical stabilization.
- ELTA Systems aims for the radar to be mobile, adaptable, and rapidly deployable.
- POINT@AIR simultaneously tracks air, sea, and ground targets.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled a new aerial radar system designed to provide early warning against low-flying drones and other small aerial threats. The system, named POINT@AIR, is mounted on a balloon, allowing for a circular, high-altitude surveillance range that overcomes the blind spots caused by terrain and urban structures.
The radar utilizes advanced active phased array technology, based on the ELM-2083 radar family, and is presented as a solution to the challenge of detecting low-altitude targets. These threats are particularly dangerous due to their minimal flight time and ability to use terrain for cover, often evading conventional ground-based radar systems.
Engineers developed a method to compensate for the balloon's movement due to wind by combining electronic beam steering with mechanical rotation. The system incorporates artificial intelligence algorithms for data processing, object recognition, and interference filtering, ensuring stable tracking and reliable performance.
"We aimed to make advanced aerial surveillance technologies more mobile and adaptable, not just a scaled-down version of existing ground radars," stated Dror Bar, General Director of ELTA Systems. The compact system is designed for rapid deployment and relocation according to changing operational needs. It simultaneously monitors air, sea, and ground targets, transmitting data to command centers.
