Israeli defense company IAI to showcase new balloon-based radar at US Army trade show

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will showcase its latest defense technology at the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) in Washington, D.C., this week, including a new radar system designed to help ground forces detect low-flying drones, aircraft and other threats.

The system, called POINT@AIR, uses a compact, tethered helium-filled balloon to elevate a radar above the battlefield, giving deployed forces a mobile, elevated view of potential threats. IAI is among dozens of American and international defense companies exhibiting their technologies at the event.

According to IAI, POINT@AIR mounts an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar on a compact balloon tethered to a ground station designed for easy transport and deployment. The elevated platform is intended to provide persistent surveillance in areas where fixed infrastructure may not be practical.

IAI Elta Systems has introduced Point@Air, an Israeli-developed mobile airborne radar designed to eliminate terrain blind spots. Operating above the landscape, it tracks low-altitude, low-signature drones and cruise missiles to provide early warning tracking. https://t.co/8gop3WpCaf

— Israel Military Channel (@IsraelMilitaryC) October 11, 2026

Military aerostats have a long history, including the use of balloons during World War I to lift observers above the battlefield. Modern systems use radar, cameras and other sensors to detect and track threats, transmitting information to ground-based operators and other forces.

IAI says POINT@AIR can track multiple aerial, maritime and ground targets. The system is reportedly designed to remain aloft for up to 30 days, providing an extended view of the surrounding area without requiring permanent infrastructure.

“Seeing the battlespace is the starting point for every effective defense,” said Guy Bar Lev, president and CEO of IAI.

“The more persistent and comprehensive that view becomes, the better equipped forces are to understand what is unfolding, anticipate threats and act with confidence. IAI is increasingly developing the next-generation capabilities that expand the boundaries of situational awareness and provide our customers with greater visibility, flexibility and time to respond.”

“Our goal was not simply to reduce the size of an existing solution, but to rethink what an aerostat-based radar could achieve,” added Dror Bar, CEO of ELTA Systems, a subsidiary of IAI.

“By combining advanced AESA technology, long-range detection and 360-degree coverage in a compact configuration, POINT@AIR gives operators the ability to establish persistent awareness where fixed infrastructure may not be practical.”

POINT@AIR adds to IAI’s portfolio of radar and air-surveillance systems. The company also develops the Green Pine radar, a key component of Israel’s Arrow missile-defense system, which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles.

Although the two systems serve different operational purposes, both are part of IAI’s broader work in radar technology for detecting and tracking threats.