Tel Aviv: Israel is developing more advanced sensor to improve the early warning on incoming threats like ballistic missiles.
The Israel Missile Defence Organization (IMDO) in the Directorate of Defence R&D of the Israel Ministry of Defence, commenced inflation of a High Availability Aerostat System (HAAS) and initial testing for deployment of an Elevated Sensor (ES) system in Northern Israel at facilities established by the MOD.
Following years of development and manufacturing, the IMDO, Israeli Air Force and ELTA, an IAI subsidiary and prime contractor for the ES program, began initial inflation operations in recent days. The HAAS is one of the world’s largest aerostats, developed and manufactured by TCOM, a US company specializing in aerostat surveillance solutions. It is designed to carry an improved sensing system, to provide detection and early warning of advanced threats.
The ES system is comprised of the HAAS and an advanced radar designed to detect incoming threats at long ranges when operating at high altitudes. It will provide additional detection and early warning capabilities to the existing operational air defence detection array deployed around Israel. This radar system was developed under a cooperative program between IMDO and the US Missile Defence Agency (MDA).
IMDO Director, Moshe Patel said, “In several flight test campaigns conducted in recent months, we have demonstrated the outstanding capabilities of Israel’s multi-tier missile defence- including against cruise missiles. The IMDO and MDA, together with the IAF and defence industries are constantly improving Israel’s threat detection capabilities. This aerostat system will cruise at high altitudes and provide an exceptional, multi-directional detection capability against advanced threats.”
US MDA Director, Vice Admiral Jon Hill commented, “The Elevated Sensor is another great example of cooperation between the Missile Defence Agency, IMDO and industry partners. The co-developed technology and research is a benefit to both nations. Additionally, this system will further enhance Israel’s advanced threat detection capabilities to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge.”
IAF Commander, Maj Gen Amikam Norkin stated that “The ES system will be a significant component in strengthening our capabilities to defend the country’s borders against a variety of threats and will enable us to build a more accurate and broader air surveillance picture. The IAF has both the defensive and offensive systems to defend the State of Israel and its sovereignty.”
IAI President and CEO, Boaz Levy said that “The ES system provides a significant technological and operational advantage for early and precise threat detection. This unique development is thanks to Israel Aerospace Industries’ talented engineers, who worked night and day to develop this advanced technology. This technology increases the reliability of the aerial surveillance picture, and increases efficiency against a range of targets.”
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
