Israel deploys new aerostat radar

The Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 3 November that the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) is testing an aerostat with a new radar capable of detecting long-range threats.

It said the High Availability Aerostat System (HAAS) was made by the US company TCOM and was recently inflated at a site it has established in northern Israel. The radar has been developed with the US Missile Defense Agency, and Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI’s) Elta subsidiary is the prime contractor.

“The elevated sensor system is comprised of the HAAS and an advanced radar designed to detect incoming threats at long ranges when operating at high altitudes,” the MoD said. “It will provide additional detection and early warning capabilities to the existing operational air defence detection array deployed around Israel.”